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Valkyries fans irked by morning tipoff time for Game 6 of WNBA Finals
The Mercury News • • general
Key Points:
- The WNBA Finals Game 6 between the Phoenix Mercury and Atlanta Dream was rescheduled to 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time due to a scheduling conflict with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena, sparking criticism for its inconvenient timing during a workday.
- The earlier start time aims to accommodate a larger crowd than the Dream’s usual 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena but limits in-person attendance and viewership for many fans in both the Bay Area and Atlanta.
- Fans and coaches expressed disappointment over the scheduling, highlighting challenges women’s sports face in gaining prime-time visibility and equal treatment compared to men’s sports.
- The Valkyries plan to host a watch party at Thrive City near Chase Center to help fans engage despite the early tipoff, while concerns remain about the possibility of a subdued championship celebration due to arena availability.
- The WNBA continues to navigate growing pains amid rising viewership and social debates, with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stepping down this offseason as the league seeks to improve scheduling and visibility in future seasons.
