‘This Is Purely on the Dream’ — Analysts Set the Record Straight on Atlanta’s Arena Controversy As Angel Reese and Co. Gear Up for WNBA Finals

October 13, 2026

The Atlanta Dream’s first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013 has been overshadowed by a scheduling conflict at State Farm Arena, their usual home venue. The arena is fully booked for the team’s three planned Finals home games—October 22, 24, and a potential Game 6 on October 29—due to a concert on the 22nd, the Atlanta Hawks’ home opener against the Houston Rockets on the 24th, and a Cavaliers game on the 29th.

While the Dream could relocate to the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, the situation highlights the logistical challenges of sharing facilities between the NBA and WNBA, as NBA teams cannot simply surrender dates for other events. The Hawks, who operate State Farm Arena, have no control over the Dream’s scheduling, and the arena’s ownership structure further complicates any potential solution.

The Dream were acquired in 2021 by a group led by real estate executive Larry Gottesdiener, including former Dream star Renee Montgomery, but even that ownership shift hasn’t resolved the arena access issue. Past instances, like the Timberwolves and Suns adjusting preseason games for WNBA playoff dates, show flexibility exists—but regular-season home openers are far harder to reschedule.