“Ridiculous”: Journalists Weigh In After NBA Scheduling Conflict Leaves WNBA Facing Unusual Championship Celebration

The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries are tied 2-2 as both teams pursue their first-ever WNBA championship. That means when the Finals return to State Farm Arena after Game 5 at Chase Center, Game 6 could potentially decide the champion. However, an NBA scheduling conflict has left the league facing an unusual dilemma, with journalists now questioning how Atlanta will handle a potential championship celebration.

WNBA reporter Noa Dalzell did not hide her frustration after ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne recently discussed the situation, calling it "ridiculous."

Sports anchor Reggie Chatman Jr. also shared a similar reaction, writing, "Goodness."

Their reactions came after Shelburne highlighted the logistical complications surrounding Thursday's potential series finale. With the Atlanta Hawks scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena later that evening, even a Dream or Valkyries championship could come with an unexpected catch: the winning team might not get to celebrate on the same court where it clinched the title.

"Guess what happens if someone wins a championship after game six? They have to turn that arena over for the Hawks game. And so that championship celebration may not actually be on that court," Shelburne explained, as per an X post by Underdog WNBA .

She added that discussions were underway about whether the arena could be turned around in time for fans to celebrate on the floor, with a practice court emerging as a possible alternative. The WNBA Finals Game 6 is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET, while the Hawks-Cavaliers game has been pushed back to 8 p.m. ET.

"It's not a great option, but it's the option they've chosen, and none of the options were good," she added.

The scheduling conflict stems from the Dream's decision to move their home Finals games to State Farm Arena rather than their regular home venue, Gateway Center Arena, which seats approximately 3,500 fans. State Farm Arena, by comparison, accommodates more than 17,000, giving Atlanta the capacity to meet the demand for a potential championship-clinching game.

Games 3 and 4 of the Finals have already been played at State Farm Arena, drawing sellout crowds. So sending a possible title-deciding Game 6 back to the much smaller Gateway Center Arena would have presented a significant challenge for ticket demand and the league's championship showcase.

However, State Farm Arena was already booked for the Hawks' regular-season matchup against Cleveland on Thursday, October 29. But rather than moving the Finals back to Gateway Center Arena, the WNBA, NBA, Atlanta Hawks, and broadcast partners ultimately agreed to a doubleheader.

That arrangement leaves arena staff with roughly five hours to clear the court, remove the WNBA Finals setup, prepare the floor for the NBA game, and accommodate the postgame proceedings if the series ends in Game 6. The compressed window could become particularly complicated if the winning team needs time for a trophy presentation, media obligations, and a championship celebration with its fans.

So the question is no longer simply whether the arena can host two basketball games in one day, but whether it can give a potential champion and its fans the moment they have spent an entire season chasing.