WNBA Finals Game 6 Rescheduled to Afternoon
Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, featuring the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries, will now take place at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. The change was made to allow State Farm Arena sufficient time to prepare for an NBA game later that evening.
This early start could pose some difficulties for fans in California, where the game will kick off at 9:30 a.m. PT. The Valkyries managed to secure a victory over the Dream in Game 5 held in San Francisco, bringing their series lead to 3-2. Thus, Game 6 could potentially crown the WNBA champion.
Typically, championship games are played in the evening, but this unusual timing doesn’t seem to deter Valkyries fans, who are expected to eagerly tune in to support their team.
Steve Kerr, the Warriors coach, has expressed his intention to watch, even if it means catching the game during breakfast. “It’s a day off, so yeah, I’ll be watching,” he commented.
This WNBA Finals series has garnered impressive viewership numbers, highlighting increasing interest in the league and its players. The Valkyries have seen sellouts for every game since they were established as an expansion team last year.
Shaunice Christmas-Miller and her wife, Kendall, have made it to every home playoff game at the Chase Center this season. Thanks to their flexible work arrangements, they will be home on Thursday. Nonetheless, they believe the fan community will still find a way to come together for the game.
“Absolutely, they’ll definitely figure something out,” Shaunice said with confidence.
Valkyries co-owner Peter Guber seems unfazed about the situation, trusting that their loyal home crowd will gather when it counts, even if they face challenges like morning traffic into San Francisco for a watch party.
Supporters have been encouraged to congregate at the Thrive City viewing area outside Chase Center, all beneath a large screen for the game.
Shaunice expressed her desire for better planning ahead of time to avoid the last-minute rush regarding the scheduling. “They should have thought ahead for the whole seven-game series,” she remarked. “The women deserve primetime slots.” Many took to social media to voice similar sentiments.
Rapper Flavor Flav chimed in on Tuesday, declaring Thursday a paid holiday and jokingly suggesting a permission slip for employees to claim absences to watch the game, which he signed himself with his witty titles. Ole Miss women’s coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin also shared her thoughts: “I’d rather play anywhere else than have a 12:30 tip for a WNBA FINALS game man! Not a good look! For fans and for the players,” she tweeted. “Just my 2 cents that no one asked for.”
Despite the scheduling hiccup, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase and her team remain focused on their play, understanding this situation is beyond their control. However, players did joke about it after recent games, with point guard Veronica Burton humorously suggesting, “Call in sick, I recommend it,” while teammate Kiah Stokes playfully responded, “Yeah, right? Y’all know how to fake a cough, didn’t we all do that?”
Golden State guard Kaila Charles seems optimistic about the early tipoff, believing it presents a good opportunity for more fans to attend and support women’s basketball. “I think it’s great that we’re able to play in a bigger arena so that they can have more people come,” she stated.
