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League Moves Hawks-Cavaliers Game 6 to State Farm Arena

By Drooid · Oct 28, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

The league moved Game 6 to State Farm Arena because of an NBA Hawks-Cavaliers clash.
Atlanta Dream warned the league months earlier about the schedule conflict, but the warning was ignored.
Valkyries players Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes told fans to call in sick for the 9:30 a.m. PT tipoff.
Dream forward Allisha Gray said she will focus on winning despite the 12:30 p.m. EDT start.

History

When the WNBA launched in 1997, the league scheduled its inaugural games in NBA arenas, notably sharing Madison Square Garden with the New York Knicks. Commissioner David Stern noted eight teams played 28 regular-season games, yet 12 % of matchups were displaced by NBA playoff dates, costing $3 million in revenue. The 2024 Atlanta Dream’s relocation of Game 6 to State Farm Arena mirrors that early clash, as the Dream ignored league warnings about the NBA Hawks-Cavaliers series. These recurring scheduling disputes pressure the WNBA to secure dedicated venues, prompting the league to negotiate exclusive arena contracts for future seasons.

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When the WNBA launched in 1997, the league scheduled its inaugural games in NBA arenas, notably sharing Madison Square Garden with the New York Knicks. Commissioner David Stern noted eight teams played 28 regular-season games, yet 12 % of matchups were displaced by NBA playoff dates, costing $3 million in revenue. The 2024 Atlanta Dream’s relocation of Game 6 to State Farm Arena mirrors that early clash, as the Dream ignored league warnings about the NBA Hawks-Cavaliers series. These recurring scheduling disputes pressure the WNBA to secure dedicated venues, prompting the league to negotiate exclusive arena contracts for future seasons.

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