WNBA Finals Game 6 relocates to State Farm Arena

WNBA Finals Game 6 is moving to a bigger building and an earlier tip-off. The WNBA announced Monday that Thursday's game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream will shift from Gateway Center Arena to State Farm Arena. Read more: WNBA Finals Game 6 relocates to State Farm Arena

The start time is moving too, from 8 p.m. ET to 12:30 p.m. ET. The game will still air on USA Network and stream on Peacock.

Gateway Center Arena, the Dream's regular-season home, seats about 3,500 fans. State Farm Arena, where the NBA's Hawks play, holds roughly 17,000. The Hawks already had that night booked for their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

So the leagues spent the weekend working out a swap. Game 6 now tips at midday, and the Hawks-Cavaliers game slides back one hour, to 8 p.m. ET, giving crews time to turn the building over. The WNBA, NBA, USA Network, NBC and Peacock also plan a coordinated push to promote the new tip time.

Commissioner Cathy Engelbert framed the change around access. "We're excited to give thousands more fans the opportunity to experience Game 6 with a championship on the line," Engelbert said. She also pointed to sold-out crowds at State Farm Arena for Games 3 and 4 as reason to believe Atlanta could fill the bigger building again.

Golden State leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 after beating Atlanta 64-55 in Game 5 on Monday at Chase Center, a result Disruptor Sports already covered.

A Golden State win in WNBA Finals Game 6 would clinch the title on the road, in front of the Dream's own fans. Still, a loss sends the series back to San Francisco for Game 7 on Saturday, also at Chase Center.

Related: WNBA Finals Game 5 picks: Best bets for Dream vs. Valkyries

Related: Valkyries defense shuts down Dream in Game 5

Sellouts all series long

Atlanta hadn't played for a championship since 2013 before this run, and the building has reflected it. Games 3 and 4 both sold out at State Farm Arena. Resale prices on a pair of 200-level seats for Game 4 climbed from about $100 to more than $230 as that game approached.

Kerry Washington, Ludacris and LSU coach Kim Mulkey were among those in the building for Game 3, with Quavo and T.I. performing at halftime. The Dream's six home games at State Farm Arena this season were also sellouts. Meanwhile, tickets for Game 6 went on public sale Monday at 4 p.m. ET through atlantadream.com.

The Dream have now played every home game of this postseason at State Farm Arena, after moving Game 3 up a night to dodge a concert and bumping Game 4 to accommodate a Hawks home opener. The team has also agreed to make State Farm Arena its full-time home starting in 2027.

Thursday's tip stays at 12:30 p.m. ET, in a 17,000-seat NBA arena, with a championship on the line either way.