Angel Reese's WNBA Finals home games may be played at smaller venue due to multiple conflicts

The Atlanta Dream will likely host their first two WNBA Finals games at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, rather than their regular home at State Farm Arena, according to a report by USA Today. The decision stems from multiple scheduling conflicts at the larger venue, which currently holds 3,500 seats for basketball games. This arrangement would mark a significant reduction in capacity for fans hoping to see Angel Reese and her teammates in person during the championship series.

The best-of-seven series between the Dream and the Golden State Valkyries begins Saturday in California. The first home game for Atlanta is not scheduled until October 22, with the second home game following on October 24. As of now, the State Farm Arena’s event schedule lists a performance by SOMBR at 7 p.m. Eastern Time on October 22 and a game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. Eastern Time on October 24. These existing commitments prevent the Dream from using their primary venue for those specific dates.

Morgan Shaw Parker, the Dream’s president and chief operating officer, stated last week that the franchise is "finalizing details on their home venue and where we will be playing." ESPN noted that the team has not yet confirmed whether they have secured a larger arena for the Finals. While there is still time to move the games, current reports indicate that attempts to use other venues like Gas South Arena hit a roadblock, according to USA Today.

The McCamish Pavilion, home of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets basketball team, appears to be available on those dates and holds 8,600 people. The Dream previously played at this facility in 2016, 2017, and 2018 while State Farm Arena was undergoing renovations. If the Gateway Center remains the venue, it would be a stark contrast to the larger arenas typically associated with professional basketball playoffs.

The Dream have advanced through the postseason with ease, sweeping the Washington Mystics in the first round and the New York Liberty in the semifinals. During the regular season, Atlanta finished with a record of 30-14. Angel Reese, who is in her first year with the Dream, earned the Defensive Player of the Year award for her performance this season. The team’s star roster includes Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, who will join Reese on the court for the Finals debut.