The WNBA announced Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, that Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries will move to State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The shift from the Dream’s regular home at Gateway Center Arena is intended to accommodate a larger audience for the championship series. To avoid scheduling conflicts at the venue, the league moved Game 3 up by one day and rescheduled the start time for Game 4.
The location for the Dream's home games had been unsettled as the team sought to play at the home of the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, which seats more than 17,000 people. Their regular venue, Gateway Center Arena, has a capacity of 3,500. The Golden State Valkyries, who host the first two games of the best-of-seven series starting this Saturday in California, have sold out every game at the 18,064-seat Chase Center during their first two seasons.
Game 3 is now scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21. Game 4 will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. Eastern, which is 2 1/2 hours earlier than the original start time. These adjustments were necessary because of a previously scheduled concert by singer Sombr on Oct. 22 and the Atlanta Hawks’ home opener on the evening of Oct. 24. A potential Game 6 location remains undetermined because the Hawks have another home game scheduled for Oct. 29.
For ticket holders and viewers, the schedule shifts on Oct. 21 and Oct. 24 will result in changes to travel plans and broadcast times. The Valkyries also navigated venue logistics, as a Doja Cat concert originally scheduled for Oct. 19 at Chase Center was moved to Oct. 25 to accommodate Game 2. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated the cooperation between the teams, arenas, and networks like NBC Sports and USA Sports was essential for the expansion, which allows more fans to view the championship in person.
The move serves as a precursor to the Dream's long-term plans, as the team signed a multiyear deal earlier this month to play all home games at State Farm Arena beginning next season. On the court, the Dream are monitoring the status of guard Allisha Gray, who missed the semifinal clincher against the New York Liberty with a left hand injury. Coach Karl Smesko reported Tuesday that Gray was a limited participant in practice and her availability for Game 1 on Saturday is not yet determined. The series begins Saturday, Oct. 17, in San Francisco.