For the first time since 2013, the Atlanta Dream have reached the WNBA Finals. After some dispute, they will also have a true home-court advantage.

During the 2026 regular season, the Dream played all but six of their home games at Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of around 3,500 fans. But for the playoffs, Atlanta was able to compete at State Farm Arena, which boasts a much larger capacity of around 17,000 fans.

Even after qualifying for the franchise’s first WNBA Finals in 13 years, it was initially unclear whether the Dream would be able to host their home games at State Farm Arena.

The third and fourth games of the series were originally scheduled for Oct. 22 and Oct. 24, dates that conflicted with previously scheduled events. Sombr was scheduled to perform at the arena on the 22nd and the Atlanta Hawks’ home-opener was placed on the 24th.

After negotiations among the teams and arena stakeholders, Game 3 was moved to Oct. 21 to avoid the concert, while Game 4 was moved to an earlier time to accommodate a doubleheader featuring the Dream and Hawks. The Hawks will now host their home-opener at 8:30 p.m., after the Dream’s 1 p.m. tip-off.

The resolution means thousands more fans can attend the Finals in Atlanta. It also comes as the WNBA continues to draw larger audiences and teams seek access to arenas that can accommodate growing demand.

“We are grateful for the efforts made by numerous stakeholders, including the Dream, the Valkyries, the Hawks, State Farm Arena, and NBC Sports and USA Sports,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in a statement announcing the change. “The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere for the first WNBA Finals game to be played in the Atlanta market since 2013.”

Atlanta Dream majority owner Larry Gottesdiener also emphasized the importance of the agreement.

“This is what the players and the fans deserve,” Gottesdiener said.

Atlanta is set to square off against Golden State in the Finals, making it certain a first-time winner will be crowned.

And with the squad facing the Valkyries, home-court advantage becomes even more crucial. Gateway Center Arena was the smallest arena in the entire league, while the Chase Center can hold upwards of 18,000 fans. The Chase Center, nicknamed Ballhalla, has quickly built a reputation as the hardest place for opposing teams to play in the WNBA. 

“I’ve never been in a place as insane as Ballhalla (the Chase Center)...” said Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase during A Touch More’s podcast. “Ballhalla is one of the most uncommon places I’ve ever been around.”

A strong home crowd can help create an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams, making arena access an important part of home-court advantage. By moving their Finals games to State Farm Arena, the Dream will have the opportunity to play in front of a much larger crowd than Gateway Center Arena could accommodate.

“This is what the players and the fans deserve.”

Atlanta Dream majority owner Larry Gottesdiener

A History of Arena Conflicts

Atlanta's situation is not unique. WNBA teams have historically had to work around arena scheduling conflicts, with playoff dates often depending on series results and national television windows.

The Phoenix Mercury faced multiple arena changes during their 2021 playoff run. The team played its first-round game against the New York Liberty at Grand Canyon University Arena because of a previously scheduled Maluma concert at its usual home, Footprint Center. Later, the Mercury played a semifinal game against the Las Vegas Aces at Desert Financial Arena because Footprint Center had booked a Disney on Ice event.

At the time, Phoenix Mercury president Vince Kozar explained the difficulties of scheduling playoff games around events that were booked well in advance. Because playoff schedules depend on how a team progresses through each round, venues must account for the possibility that a game they reserve space for may never take place.

“The WNBA playoffs create a very unique challenge for scheduling,” Kozar told Cronkite News in 2021. “When you’re looking to schedule something like a playoff game, you’re not talking about simply choosing one event over another, you’re weighing the risk of choosing no event over another.”

In 2025, Phoenix again faced a scheduling conflict when a Jonas Brothers concert was scheduled for the same day as Game 4 of its semifinal series against the Minnesota Lynx. The concert was moved to the following day, allowing the Mercury to play at home.

Other teams have not been as fortunate. In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries had to move their first-round home game from San Francisco’s Chase Center to the SAP Center in San Jose because Chase Center was hosting the Laver Cup tennis tournament. The tournament had been booked in 2023, before the Bay Area was awarded a WNBA franchise. The Valkyries said they explored every possible option to play at Chase Center, but ultimately moved the game.

The Washington Mystics faced a similar issue earlier this season. Because of another Jonas Brothers concert, the team had to host a first-round playoff game at CareFirst Arena, which holds 4,200 fans, rather than Capital One Arena, which can accommodate more than 20,000.

Making Room for the Finals

This season, the Valkyries faced another potential scheduling conflict when a Doja Cat concert was scheduled for Oct. 19 at Chase Center, the same day Golden State would host Game 2 of the WNBA Finals if it advanced.

Before the Valkyries clinched their Finals spot, the team said it had a contingency plan in place for the concert. After Golden State advanced, the concert was officially moved to Oct. 25, allowing the team to host its Finals game at Chase Center as scheduled.

Atlanta’s situation followed a similar approach. These resolutions are another sign of the growing demand for women's basketball and the larger venues teams need to accommodate their fans. Atlanta's attendance has grown substantially, with the team surpassing its 2025 attendance record in just 15 home games during the 2026 season. The Finals announcement came a week after the franchise confirmed it would play its entire 2027 season at State Farm Arena.

“Ensuring that Games 3 and 4 of the Finals will be played at State Farm Arena is an important moment for the Dream’s players, fans, the organization and the city of Atlanta and is a testament to the extraordinary momentum of the team, women’s basketball and the growing impact of women’s sports,” the Dream and the Hawks said in a joint statement. 

With a WNBA championship on the line, securing State Farm Arena ensures the Dream can host their Finals games in front of thousands more fans, giving Atlanta the home-court advantage its players and fans deserve.