Atlanta Dream blame WNBA over Finals scheduling debacle
Owners of the Atlanta Dream pointed the blame for their scheduling debacle at WNBA leadership, saying they informed league officials of potential issues months in advance. Earlier this week, it was announced that Game 6 of the WNBA Finals will be played at State Farm Arena on Thursday at 12:30pm. The schedule change comes after the Dream were initially set to play their game against the Golden State Valkyries at the much smaller Gateway Center Arena in the suburbs of Atlanta. However, despite moving to an arena with nearly 15,000 more seats, they will be forced to play a potential championship-deciding game at an inopportune time due to conflicts with the building's main tenant, the Atlanta Hawks. With the WNBA community up in arms over this decision, the Dream penned an open letter to their fans criticizing the league's inaction on this issue. After thanking their fans for their support, as well as their 'patience, your flexibility, and your willingness to navigate all the hurdles being placed in front of us,' the letter read: 'This incredible run by our players has also made something else abundantly clear: The Atlanta Dream has earned the right to be taken seriously.'
Dream decries Finals scheduling conflict
The letter continued: '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. 'As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns. Our concerns did not receive the attention, nor the urgency that they deserved.' 'Perhaps it was assumed that the Dream would not make it this far. Perhaps our place in the Finals was not accounted for. Whatever the reason, the reality is that we are here. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for it's team. 'Playing a midday game on a Thursday is not what we would have chosen and not what we fought for.
State Farm Arena takes center stage
And as much as we have great affection and nostalgia for Gateway Center Arena, we believed that our fans and the city wanted the opportunity to be a part of this historic series, and to see it played on a world-class stage. 'That meant State Farm Arena. We are grateful to everyone who helped make that possible, especially our partners - the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena - who stepped up by adjusting their schedule on the fly, not once, but three times.' The Dream then thanked the Hawks again, saying, 'When one of us has an opportunity to make history, we all want to see it happen.'
Criticism targets outgoing commissioner Engelbert
The letter concluded: 'We have built something special here, powered by our players, our fans, our partners, and a city that believes in what we are doing. We intend to keep building. We intend to keep winning. And we expect the opportunities, planning, and consideration afforded to us to reflect the level at which we compete.' WNBA spokespeople did not immediately respond to The Daily Mail's request for comment. Much of the criticism in the aftermath of the decision was aimed at Cathy Engelbert, the outgoing commissioner of the WNBA who has faced criticism multiple times throughout the year over her leadership.
Back
Back
Top
