Dream will host WNBA Finals Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena after venue shuffle

The Atlanta Dream have a much bigger stage for the WNBA Finals. The team's home games against the Golden State Valkyries will be played at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.

The new schedule

Game 3 is now set for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. Central. Game 4 is Saturday, Oct. 24, at noon Central. That same night the Atlanta Hawks open their home season against the Houston Rockets in the same building at 7:30 p.m. Central.

Game 3 had first been planned for Oct. 22 and Game 4 had been planned for later in the afternoon. The league did not name a site for a possible Game 6.

Thousands more seats

The Dream usually play at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which seats about 3,500. State Farm Arena holds about 17,000 for basketball. Atlanta played five regular-season games and its first three home playoff games there this year. The team has already said it will move all of its 2027 home games to the downtown arena because of fan demand.

"The change of venue dramatically expands the seating capacity and ensures that the Dream will be able to provide an extraordinary atmosphere," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said.

"This is what the players and the fans deserve," Dream majority owner Larry Gottesdiener said.

A first title is coming

The series opens Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco at 2:30 p.m. Central. Atlanta reached its first Finals since 2013 by sweeping the New York Liberty. Golden State got there in only its second season by sweeping the Las Vegas Aces. Either way, a franchise will win its first WNBA title.

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 go on sale to the public Friday at 9 a.m. Central.