Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream’s home games in the WNBA Finals will have to be played in front of a meagre crowd at a 3,500-seat arena.
The Dream will take on the Golden State Valkyries in the finals as both teams look to win their first-ever WNBA title.
But hopes of playing Games 3, 4 and potentially 6 at Atlanta’s larger State Farm Arena have been dashed because of scheduling issues.
Instead of the city’s 17,000-seater arena, the Dream will be forced to play at the less-inspiring Gateway Center Arena, which can hold just 3,500 people.
The dates of Atlanta’s scheduled home games clash with a Sombr concert on October 22 and two Atlanta Hawks NBA games. The Hawks host the Houston Rockets on October 24 and the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 29.
The Dream have reportedly tried to find a bigger venue in the Atlanta area but their efforts have come up short.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals home games will be held at a smaller arena
The Dream will have to play at the less-inspiring Gateway Center Arena, which holds 3,500
They hoped to play at the bigger State Farm Arena, the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks
Reese and her teammates have played six regular season games and three playoff contests at State Farm Arena this season and announced recently that it will be their permanent home venue next season.
‘This is an exciting next chapter for the Atlanta Dream, and a direct reflection of the exciting style of play that is Dream basketball, the passion of our fans and the incredible growth of this franchise,’ Morgan Shaw Parker, president and COO of the Dream, said when the announcement was made last week.
‘Our players and our fans have transformed Gateway Center Arena into the most exciting experience in the WNBA. State Farm Arena gives us the opportunity to welcome thousands of additional fans while creating an even bigger stage for women’s basketball in Atlanta. We look forward to bringing the energy, traditions and spirit of Gateway with us to the heart of our city.’
The Dream reached the Finals for the first time since 2013 after taking out the New York Liberty in three games.
Atlanta reached the WNBA Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, but got swept each time. This is a different Atlanta roster with a bunch of stars including Reese, Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
Gray, the Dream’s leading scorer, injured her left hand in the semifinals opener and missed the next two games. Having the time off before the Finals begin will be big for her.
The Dream also added veteran DeWanna Bonner late in the season, which has proven to be a huge addition with her playoff experience.
Offense may be hard to come by for both teams as they are two of the best defensive squads in the league. Golden State won all three of the regular-season meetings with the last coming on July 4.
