WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream objects to lunchtime Game 6

The Atlanta Dream ownership group issued an open letter to fans on Tuesday, criticizing the WNBA for moving Game 6 of the Finals to a Thursday afternoon slot. The game against the Golden State Valkyries will now tip off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time at State Farm Arena. This is a major shift from the original 8 p.m. start time.

The league changed the schedule to avoid a conflict with an Atlanta Hawks NBA game later that evening. The Dream owners said they raised concerns about scheduling clashes at the shared venue two months prior. They argued the league did not treat those concerns with enough urgency.

"Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps our place in the Finals was not accounted for," the owners wrote in the letter. "Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here."

The scheduling dispute has generated attention from prominent figures outside of basketball. Rapper Flavor Flav suggested making the day a paid holiday so fans could attend the game. He shared a mock letter asking employers to release workers from their duties for the afternoon.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton supported the idea on social media. She wrote, "I endorse this message." The Dream owners also thanked the Hawks and arena staff for adjusting their schedules three times to fit the Finals into the venue's calendar.