Valkyries and Dream Set to Compete for First WNBA Title as Finals Move to State Farm Arena

The 2026 WNBA Finals will crown a first-time champion as the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries meet the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream. The matchup was finalized following a series of logistical resolutions that moved the Atlanta leg of the series from a small community gym to a major NBA arena.

The WNBA and the Atlanta Hawks confirmed that Games 3 and 4 will be held at the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, shifting away from the Dream’s regular-season home at the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena. To accommodate the move, Game 3 has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 8 p.m. ET. This shift allows the league to avoid a scheduling conflict with a concert by the singer Sombr, originally slated for the following night.

Games 3 and 4 of the Finals will move to the 17,000-seat in Atlanta.

Game 4 is now scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. ET. This creates a same-day doubleheader at the venue, as the Atlanta Hawks moved their home opener against the Houston Rockets to an 8:30 p.m. tip-off to ensure the WNBA game could proceed in the afternoon. According to a joint statement from the Atlanta Dream and Atlanta Hawks, the cooperation between the two franchises was essential to securing the larger venue for the championship round.

A Historic Path for Both Franchises

The 2026 Finals guarantee a new name on the WNBA trophy. The Golden State Valkyries reached the championship round in just their second year of existence, becoming the first expansion team in league history to reach the Finals in their sophomore season. They secured their spot by sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.

The Atlanta Dream reached their first Finals since 2013 after sweeping the 2024 champion New York Liberty. While the Dream have appeared in the Finals three times previously (2010, 2011, and 2013), they have never won the title.

The logistical challenges were not limited to Atlanta. At the Valkyries’ home venue, Chase Center, a Doja Cat concert was moved from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25 to ensure the arena was available for Game 2 of the series.

Scheduling adjustments were made at both venues to accommodate the championship series.

Unresolved Venue Status for Game 6

While Games 3 and 4 are secured for the larger downtown Atlanta arena, the location for a potential Game 6 remains unconfirmed. State Farm Arena is currently booked for a Hawks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 29, the date a sixth game would take place.

Reports indicate that as of Oct. 13, it is unclear if further negotiations will move that game to the larger arena or if it would revert to the smaller Gateway Center Arena. The WNBA has not yet released a definitive update on the Game 6 contingency plan.

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