Atlanta hosts a full day of basketball Thursday, with the Dream fighting to extend the WNBA Finals at 12:30 p.m. before the Hawks face Cleveland at 8 p.m.
By A.T.L. N.E.W.S. Staff | October 29, 2026
GEORGIA NEWS | SPORTS
ATLANTA — State Farm Arena will host two Atlanta basketball teams Thursday, but the afternoon carries championship consequences. The Atlanta Dream enter Game 6 of the WNBA Finals trailing the Golden State Valkyries 3-2, needing a victory to keep their season alive and force a deciding Game 7.
The Dream and Valkyries are scheduled to tip off at 12:30 p.m. Eastern, followed by the Atlanta Hawks hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at 8 p.m. Both matchups appear on State Farm Arena’s official schedule, giving downtown Atlanta an afternoon-to-evening basketball lineup.
Dream Must Win to Keep Championship Hopes Alive
For Atlanta, Thursday is an elimination game. A Dream victory would send the series back to California for Game 7 on Saturday, October 31; a loss would give Golden State the championship.
The Dream’s official team schedule lists the potential seventh game for Saturday night. Atlanta’s immediate task is to earn that trip, giving the home crowd one final opportunity this season to help push the team toward a championship.
Earlier Tipoff Makes Room for Both Teams
The unusual midday start followed a scheduling adjustment that allowed the Finals to remain at State Farm Arena. According to the WNBA’s announcement, Game 6 moved from its originally scheduled 8 p.m. tipoff to 12:30 p.m., while the Hawks agreed to move their game against Cleveland to 8 p.m.
The arrangement preserves the larger downtown setting that hosted Games 3 and 4. It also creates a demanding turnaround for arena crews, who must remove the Dream’s court and install the Hawks’ floor between games, The Associated Press reported.
Despite criticism that the early start conflicts with work and school, the Dream announced Wednesday that Game 6 was sold out. Approximately 17,000 fans are expected, according to the AP report.
Hawks Look to End Losing Streak
Once the Finals action concludes, attention shifts to a Hawks team seeking to reverse an early-season slide. Atlanta enters Thursday’s matchup on a three-game losing streak after falling 129-117 to Miami, while Cleveland arrives with three consecutive victories, according to a Reuters game preview.
Both teams are playing the second night of a back-to-back. The Cavaliers defeated Washington 121-111 on Wednesday, setting up a matchup between a Cleveland team building momentum and an Atlanta team trying to regain its footing.
How to Watch the Dream
Game 6 will air nationally on USA Network and stream on Peacock beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. The Hawks-Cavaliers game follows at State Farm Arena at 8 p.m., completing a day that begins with Atlanta’s WNBA championship hopes on the line.