The WNBA Finals are taking an unexpected turn: Game 6 between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream is getting a surprisingly early start.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Time Does WNBA Finals Game 6 Start?
Game 6 is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Fans who planned to watch in the evening will need to adjust their schedules to catch the action live. The change also affects the Atlanta Hawks, who agreed to move their regular-season home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers to 8 p.m. ET that night to accommodate the earlier WNBA tipoff at State Farm Arena.
The WNBA announced the schedule change in a press release on Monday (Oct. 26), confirming the unusual midday start for a Finals game with the championship on the line.
How Can You Watch WNBA Finals Game 6 Live?
Viewers can watch the game on USA Network or stream it on Peacock.
The WNBA, NBA, USA Network, NBC, and Peacock will also coordinate promotional efforts across television, digital and social media to publicize the revised start time.
General public ticket sales opened October 26 at 4 p.m. ET through the Atlanta Dream's official website, which gives fans another opportunity to attend the Finals in person.
Why Was WNBA Finals Game 6 Moved to an Earlier Time?
Dream ownership admitted that the change was due to conflicts with the Hawks’ schedule. They said in an open letter that they’d raised concerns months ago, but were ignored.
“Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns that the W Finals schedule conflicted with NBA games at State Farm Arena,” the letter read. “As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns. Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved.” The current 12:30 slot, they said, is “not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for.”
