‘Either Way the League Loses’ — ESPN Legend Laments ‘Sad’ State of WNBA Finals As Arena Controversy Overshadows Angel Reese, Dream

The Atlanta Dream are heading to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, but their historic run has been overshadowed by a major arena problem.

ESPN legend Linda Cohn has called the situation a "sad" reflection of the league, as questions grow about why Angel Reese and her teammates may have to play championship games in a venue with just 3,500 seats.

Linda Cohn Claims Angel Reese, Dream Playing WNBA Finals in 3,500-Seat Arena Would Be an 'Embarrassment'

The Dream usually play most of their home games at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. The venue holds around 3,500 fans for basketball, making it the WNBA's smallest arena.

However, Atlanta has also played selected games at State Farm Arena, home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks. The venue holds more than 17,000 people and hosted the Dream's three home playoff games this year, which drew an average of almost 9,700 fans.

The team hoped to use State Farm Arena for the Finals, but scheduling conflicts have hindered that plan. A concert is scheduled there on Oct. 22, while Hawks games are booked for Oct. 24 and 29. Those dates coincide with Games 3 and 4 of the Finals and Game 6, if needed.

The Dream's home venue for the 2026 WNBA Finals remains unconfirmed, with reports indicating Gateway Center is the likely option.

Cohn, a former longtime ESPN anchor, believes the controversy has put the WNBA in a lose-lose situation, with the league receiving negative publicity instead of attention for basketball.

If the Dream play their home Finals games in a 3,500-seat arena, it could call into question the WNBA's growth at a time when it wants to attract more fans. But if a larger venue is announced at the last minute, the league could still face criticism for taking so long to find one.

"I can't help wondering whether the controversy is giving the Finals publicity they otherwise wouldn't be getting, and that's a pretty sad commentary, isn't it?" Cohn said on Monday's episode of "The Linda Cohn Show."

"Because either way, I think the league loses. Either way, they lose."

Cohn added that playing in a 3,500-seat arena would be an "embarrassment" for a league trying to show its growth.

Fans have also voiced frustration online, with some calling the situation "horrendous" and demanding that the games be moved.

When it comes to the Finals, the stakes are significant. Atlanta swept the New York Liberty in the semifinals to reach its first Finals in 13 years, while the other finalists, the Golden State Valkyries, swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The matchup guarantees a first WNBA championship for one of the franchises.

Reese has been central to Atlanta's run, but instead of the Finals being defined by Reese and Atlanta's title bid, the arena dispute has become the major talking point.