Dream Bring WNBA Finals to State Farm Arena for Historic Basketball Doubleheader

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Dream are bringing championship basketball to the heart of the city, and Atlanta sports fans have even more reason to celebrate.

Following the Dream’s historic return to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, the organization and the Atlanta Hawks announced that Games 3 and 4 of the championship series will officially take place at State Farm Arena.

Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET, while Game 4 will tip off Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. ET.

But Saturday’s excitement won’t end with the Dream.

In a rare basketball doubleheader, the Hawks will host the Houston Rockets at 8:30 p.m. that same evening for their 2026-27 NBA regular-season home opener.

That means Atlanta basketball fans will have the opportunity to experience WNBA championship basketball and the beginning of a new NBA season under the same roof, just hours apart.

The decision to relocate the Finals games from Gateway Center Arena to State Farm Arena represents another significant moment for a Dream franchise experiencing tremendous growth both on and off the court.

According to a joint statement from the Dream and Hawks, moving the games required extensive coordination and cooperation among multiple organizations, including the Golden State Valkyries, the NBA, WNBA, and broadcast partners from both leagues.

The organizations acknowledged that arranging the venue change presented numerous logistical challenges, particularly given the limited time available before the championship series.

Still, the collective effort made it possible to provide the Dream with a larger stage for one of the most important moments in franchise history.

For Atlanta, the announcement carries additional significance.

After sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals, the Dream are preparing for their fourth WNBA Finals appearance and another opportunity to capture the franchise’s first championship.

The team previously reached the Finals in 2010, 2011, and 2013 but came up short on each occasion.

Now, 13 years later, a new generation of Dream players has returned Atlanta to the championship stage.

The move to State Farm Arena also comes as the Dream prepare to make the downtown venue their permanent home beginning with the 2027 WNBA season.

After years of building an enthusiastic fan base at Gateway Center Arena, the franchise is entering another chapter, one that reflects the growing popularity of women’s basketball throughout Atlanta and beyond.

Hosting WNBA Finals games at State Farm Arena offers an opportunity for even more fans to witness this historic playoff run while giving the players a championship atmosphere in one of the city’s premier sports venues.

And with the Hawks beginning their season on the same day as Game 4, October 24 is shaping up to be a memorable date on Atlanta’s basketball calendar.

Tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals will go on sale to the general public Friday, October 16, at 10 a.m.

For a city that has waited more than a decade to see the Dream return to the Finals, the excitement is building.

Two Atlanta basketball franchises. One arena. One unforgettable Saturday.

And for the Dream, the opportunity to bring a WNBA championship home has never felt closer.