Game 5 of the WNBA Finals is set for Monday night, but some are already looking ahead to Game 6, where the date, time and location are all up in the air.
How exactly did we get here? Let’s rewind.
The 2026 WNBA Finals between the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries is the second season of a best-of-seven game series since the league switched from a best-of-five in 2025.
The Valkyries are hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and if needed, 7, while the Dream host 3, 4 and 6.
Games 3 and 4 already had a scheduling and location shift. They were originally slated to be held at the Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of 3,500 fans.
Due to large demand, the league moved Games 3 and 4 to State Farm Arena, which seats around 17,000. For comparison, the Valkyries’ Chase Center (Ballhalla) can seat 18,064 basketball fans.
Atlanta announced earlier in the month that they will play all of their home games at State Farm Arena in the 2027 season.
As a part of the switch, the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks moved their home opener from 8pm to 8:30pm on Oct. 24.
“I put quite a bit of pressure on the commissioner of the NBA and the WNBA. I felt, look, it’s not really about us, it’s about the league,” Warriors and Valkyries owner Joe Lacob said to The Associated Press. “The look would not be too good to have Ballhalla and 18,000 fans here and 3,500 over there. I think it’s important for the league to play these games in the finals, a great championship between two very good teams, in front of the same kind of crowd in both places.”
Notably, both Games 3 and 4 were played in front of sellout crowds at the State Farm Arena.
Now that the series is tied up at two a piece, a Game 6 will be need. As of Oct. 25,
Game 6 is still scheduled for 8pm ET on Oct. 29, but the exact location is listed TBD on the WNBA’s schedule.
Where will the WNBA Finals Game 6 be played?
According to a Dream spokesperson, Atlanta is waiting to hear from the league if changes can be made to allow the game to be held at State Farm Arena.
“If not, the game will be played in Gateway Center Arena,” the spokesperson told ESPN.
The Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena on Oct. 29, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. ET.
While the Hawks were able to shift up their game for the WNBA’s Game 3, it’s uncertain if there’s any wiggle room for Game 6, given the Hawks have a doubleheader, hosting the Miami Heat on Oct. 28 at 7pm ET.
State Farm Arena is available on Tuesday and Friday nights, but that may require even further shifting of the Finals schedule, given that Game 5 is set for Monday night and, if needed, Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31.
As reported by ESPN, one proposal would shift the dates of both Game 6 and Game 7.
One proposal would move Game 6 to Friday, Oct. 30 and Game 7, if necessary, from Saturday, Oct. 31 to Tuesday, Nov. 3.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) October 25, 2026
That would mean three days between each of Games 5/6 and 6/7.
The WNBA would support that proposal, but only if both teams agree to it, sources said. https://t.co/rPWY7zXJCS
In the meantime, Game 5 will be taking place at 8pm ET on Monday, Oct. 26 in San Francisco. Both Games 5 and 6 (and 7, if needed) will be available to watch on USA and streaming on Peacock.
