Caffeine may not be necessary. Perhaps pure adrenaline could suffice.
Fans of the Golden State Valkyries will rise early on Thursday, as Game 6 of the WNBA Finals kicks off at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time in Atlanta.
The atmosphere was electric on Monday during Game 5 against Atlanta, which started like any other Finals game—with both teams stepping off the court just before the national anthem. The packed Chase Center in San Francisco was filled with excited fans.
Supporters of this two-year-old team, decked out in their giveaway lavender T-shirts, were incredibly energetic. They cheered loudly, urging their team on for a 64-55 win that gave the Valkyries a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
This buzz might linger for a few days, which could be beneficial when the alarm goes off.
WNBA FINALS GAME 6, A POSSIBLE TITLE WINNER, WILL BE HELD THURSDAY AFTERNOON
“I’m definitely taking the day off work for this,” one female fan shared, outlining her plans for Thursday.
Another female fan expressed disappointment, saying, “It’s really unfortunate that many fans on the West Coast won’t be able to support the Valkyries. It’s tough with school runs and drop-offs, but I’m going to figure it out somehow.”
Some retirees mentioned that they wake up early anyway, so they aren’t too worried and plan to watch the game on TV as usual.
A few male fans revealed they would catch the game on their laptops… while at work. Shhhh.
The unusual start time in Atlanta is due to scheduling conflicts at State Farm Arena. The Atlanta Dream typically play at Gateway Center Arena, but playoff games have shifted to State Farm due to its larger capacity.
However, with the NBA season in full swing, scheduling became more complex at State Farm, home to the Atlanta Hawks.
When it became clear that the WNBA Finals needed to return to Atlanta for a Game 6 on Thursday, some reshuffling was necessary. Due to a Hawks game that night, the early game time was selected to create an unusual doubleheader.
Interestingly enough, many Bay Area fans seem more focused on the scheduling issue for Game 6 than the ongoing debate about the national anthem walkouts that have made headlines since the Finals began.
“I just don’t see why we even need the national anthem [before the games]. If they want to step back and regroup, that’s fine. It’s been like this for two seasons,” said one female fan.
“This isn’t a controversy; people are just trying to make it one,” another male fan added. “I don’t think not being on the court during the anthem reflects on one’s patriotism or loyalty to the country.”
Many fans voiced that whether to be on the court for the national anthem should be a personal choice for athletes, even if it’s not the choice they would personally make.
A female fan sporting Valkyries gear expressed her beliefs, saying, “We have strong feelings about this. We’re both veterans. We stand, we honor the flag. The players are just getting ready for the game.”
While the WNBA rulebook states players should stand respectfully during the anthem, this rule hasn’t been enforced since 2017.
Some fans expressed hope that the players would choose to stand for the anthem. “It’s a personal choice, but I feel the anthem represents those who’ve fought for our freedom,” a female fan noted. “Different people may see it differently, but for me, it’s all about respect.”
The Golden State Valkyries displayed a balanced performance, with four players scoring in double figures. Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton each contributed 13 points, while Tiffany Hayes and Cecila Zandalasini added 12 points each.
As for Atlanta, Angel Reese had a subdued scoring night, finishing with only 7 points, although she grabbed 15 rebounds. Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 20 points.
