Game 6 of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will now be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA, with the league moving the matchup to a 12:30pm ET tip on Thursday, Oct. 29.
The WNBA announced the change on Monday, shifting Game 6 away from the smaller Gateway Center Arena. The move gives the Finals a larger stage after Games 3 and 4 were also moved from Gateway Center to State Farm Arena.
Why the venue change matters
State Farm Arena seats around 17,000, compared with about 3,500 at Gateway Center Arena, so the relocation opens the door for a much bigger crowd for a possible title-clinching game. It also changes the timing of the matchup, moving it from the evening window to an afternoon start.
The schedule adjustment affects more than just the Finals. The Thursday evening calendar at State Farm Arena also altered the NBA's Atlanta Hawks game time, showing how one playoff change can ripple through the building's schedule.
If the series reaches Game 6, the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will meet in one of the most prominent WNBA settings of the postseason, with an earlier tip-off and a larger building than originally planned.
