Atlanta's blowout win in a midday Game 6 sends the series back to Golden State for a decider on Saturday at Chase Center.
The Atlanta Dream handled the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, winning big enough to push the series to a deciding Game 7. It's the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
The win came in a setting nobody planned for. Game 6 tipped off at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena after a scheduling scramble caused by the Atlanta Hawks having their own home game that evening against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The arena calendar reportedly hadn't been cleared with the Dream for the postseason, leaving the team without its usual options and forcing an unusual midday broadcast on USA Network, a start time the broadcaster reportedly opposed.
None of that mattered to Atlanta fans, who packed State Farm Arena despite the game landing in the middle of a workday. The sold-out crowd watched the Dream take care of business and keep their championship hopes alive.
Game 7 shifts to Golden State, where the Valkyries will host the series finale on Saturday at Chase Center.