ATLANTA -- Game 6 of the WNBA Finals between Atlanta and Golden State on Thursday is a sellout despite its much-criticized 12:30 p.m. ET tipoff, the Dream announced Wednesday.
The Valkyries lead the series 3-2 and can clinch their first WNBA title with a win in the matinee at State Farm Arena. The Dream need a win to force a Game 7 on Saturday night in California.
There were concerns the early tipoff would have the teams playing the potentially decisive Finals game in a half-empty arena because of fans having work and school obligations. Instead, the sellout means another Atlanta turnout of approximately 17,000 is expected for the third time in the series.
"I think it's good," Dream coach Karl Smesko said Wednesday. "I'm glad we're at State Farm and they got everything worked out. Everybody understands it's going to be an early start time. Hopefully the crowd gets there early and is ready to support us to a win."
The Dream played most of their regular-season home games at Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of about 3,500. On Oct. 6, the team announced it will play all its home games at State Farm Arena beginning next season after landing a multiyear agreement with the venue.
For the Finals, however, the Dream and WNBA have had to negotiate scheduling conflicts at the much bigger venue because of a concert and NBA Hawks home games. Because the Hawks had a home game against Cleveland scheduled for Thursday night, the decision was made to schedule the early WNBA tipoff instead of holding a primetime game at Gateway Center Arena.
The decision generated criticism of the Dream, the Hawks and the WNBA. The Dream ownership group of Robyn and Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery responded with an open letter to fans Tuesday. The letter said the league was slow to respond to concerns about scheduling conflicts that were raised two months ago.
"As we moved through the playoffs, we reiterated those concerns," the owners wrote. "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 its team."
The decision to keep the game at State Farm Arena means a second same-day court transformation in the Finals. The Hawks moved back the start of their game against the Cavaliers from 7 to 8 p.m. so there will be sufficient time to remove the Dream's court and install the Hawks' court.
The Dream also had an early tipoff for Game 4 at State Farm Arena before the Hawks' game that night against Houston.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.