The Atlanta Dream Made The WNBA Finals But Where Will They Play?

The Atlanta Dream are in the WNBA Finals. 

They’ll take on the Golden State Valkyries starting Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 on NBC and Peacock.  

That’s the good news. 

The bad news is that, due to a set of unfortunate circumstances, the Dream are searching for an arena in the Atlanta area large enough to host their Finals games. 

Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream have played most of their 22 home games this year, holds only 3,500. The Dream also played six regular-season and three playoff games at State Farm Arena in 2026, selling out the arena five times. They closed the upper bowl for the playoffs and still drew almost 10,000 fans. 

Next year, the team will play all 25 home games at the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, home of the Atlanta Hawks. 

But that doesn’t solve the Finals problem. 

The best-of-seven Finals uses a 2-2-1-1-1 format. 

The Dream are scheduled to host the Golden State Valkyries for Games 3, 4 and, if necessary, 6 on Oct. 22, 24 and 29. Singer-songwriter Sombr is scheduled to perform at State Farm Arena on Oct. 22. The Hawks host the Houston Rockets in their home opener Oct. 24, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are scheduled to visit Oct. 29. 

The latest on the venue search came from Dream president and chief operating officer Morgan Shaw Parker, who said last week the team was “finalizing details on their home venue and where we will be playing.” 

The team had no further comment when contacted by media this week. 

Gas South Arena in Gwinnett County has also been floated as a possibility. It hosted a 2013 WNBA Finals game when it was known as the Arena at Gwinnett Center, although none of the players on the Dream’s current roster played there. The 13,000-seat arena is nearly 30 miles from Atlanta. 

According to The Athletic, the arena is available Oct. 22 and 24, but an arena spokesperson would not comment on whether the Dream have contacted them.  

Another option is Georgia Tech’s McCamish Pavilion, which says it is available on all three dates. A spokesperson said no one from the Dream has reached out. The arena seats about 10,000. 

Where the Dream ultimately play could put the team at a competitive disadvantage. Chase Center, home of the Valkyries and Golden State Warriors, has developed a passionate Valkyries fan base in just two seasons. The 18,064-seat arena has even picked up the nickname “Ballhalla” when the Valkyries play there. 

Wherever they play, all eyes will be on Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese, who seeks her first WNBA championship in her third year in the league. The Valkyries hope to make it a vengeance series for 13-year-veteran Tiffany Hayes, who the Dream traded to the Connecticut Sun in 2023. This will be her second Finals appearance after playing for the Dream when they lost to the Lynx in the 2013 Finals.  

Watch more on the arena controversy below: