Valkyries win could put WNBA in ‘inevitable’ arena problem for Game 6

The Golden State Valkyries traveled to Atlanta for two games of the WNBA Finals and earned a draw by knocking off the Dream 67-62 on Saturday. Now, with this best-of-seven series tied at two, the biggest pre-series question is back: Where, exactly, will Game 6 be played?

The Dream have called College Park’s Gateway Center Arena home for the past six seasons, which only has a capacity of about 3,500. But the Dreams moved all playoff games this year to the much larger State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta, an arena run by the NBA’s Hawks that seats just over 17,000 people.

Once the WNBA Finals game was set, it was unclear where the league was going to host the three games in Atlanta. The WNBA set the Finals schedule months in advance with national television partners, and State Farm Arena had conflicts for the dates of Games 3, 4 and 6. But on October 13, the WNBA announced that Games 3 and 4, the two guaranteed games in Atlanta, would be moved so they could be played at State Farm Arena.

However, what hasn’t been said is what would happen if the series goes all the way to Game 6, which is currently scheduled for Thursday, October 28. The league still hasn’t answered that question as of Saturday’s rush hour, but a Hawks executive took people into the negotiations.

Atlanta Hawks Chief Operating Officer Steve Koonin went on Friday on 92.9 The Game, Atlanta’s sports talk radio station on WZGC-FM, on the “Dukes and Bell” show and was asked about Game 6 and gave a rather ominous quote.

“To be 100% clear, the decision is up to the league. We don’t have a decision,” Koonin said. “We’ve proposed several dates. I hope to Dream in Five Years, I pray to Dream in Five Years, I walk around with my legs and fingers and toes crossed for Dream in Five Years. But it’s a league decision. It’s very difficult to move NBA games.

“So write your local congressman and your local commissioner that we’re playing. Because they have to be in a major — that’s high-level basketball — to be in a professional building.”

Koonin said moving Game 6 to the much smaller Gateway Center Arena “may be inevitable” due to complex scheduling issues, particularly because the Hawks are scheduled to play the Cavaliers that night.

“You can’t move one Cleveland game without affecting 10 other games. They’re dominoes,” Koonin said. “I’m hopeful, but we’re having a lot of discussions and telling the league what’s going on in Atlanta. The Dreams are a priority, people are excited – they blew the roof off. I hope the Dreams are in (State Farm Arena), and if not, we’re going to fight like hell to get them in our building. We’ve made dates available to the league.”

When asked if the Valkyries would have to approve a schedule change again, Koonin said, “We all play when we’re told.”

This week in Atlanta, Game 3 took place on Wednesday, a day earlier than scheduled. And Saturday’s Game 4 was moved up 2.5 hours to make it part of a doubleheader at State Farm Arena. The Dream game was played at 1 p.m. local time in Atlanta, with the Hawks’ home opener later that night pushed back a half-hour to 8:30 p.m. Eastern to ease the transition from one team to the other. Koonin celebrated how well both games were selling in the interview on 92.9 The Game.

Earlier in the call, Koonin talked about the “incredible” crowd the Dream drew in Game 3 and expressed hope that Atlanta wins on Saturday. Koonin clearly hoped the Dream would win on Saturday and conclude the series in San Francisco on Monday to make all the talk in the arena a moot point for Game 6.

Unfortunately for Koonin, the Valkyries played their best game of the series on Saturday, taking a double-digit lead in the second quarter and keeping the dream runs contained in the second half.

The series continues in San Francisco on Monday with Game 5 on Monday, with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. Pacific. Game 6 is now guaranteed and is currently scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern in Atlanta.