Heather Burns, USA TODAY Tue, October 27, 2026 at 5:35 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he would be watching the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries try to clinch their first championship on Thursday morning. The Valkyries lead the best-of-seven WNBA Finals series 3-2.
Game 6 between the Valkyries and Atlanta Dream tips off at 9:30 a.m. PT on Oct. 29.
"I'll be having breakfast about that time," Kerr said. "We'll have a day off then so I will be watching."
The game was moved to a matinee so it could be played at the Atlanta Hawks' home, State Farm Arena, which holds 17,000 spectators. It had previously been scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Gateway Center, the Dream's home arena, which holds 3,500.
Asked if he thought playing at 12:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta for a championship was good idea, Kerr said: "It's better than having it at the YMCA that night, in front of 75 people. Their doing what they gotta do."
Gabby Williams #1, Veronica Burton #22, Tiffany Hayes #15, and Kaila Charles #6 of the Golden State Valkyries react during the first quarter against the Atlanta Dream in game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 26, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Gabby Williams #1, Tiffany Hayes #15, and Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries react in front of Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 26, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) Arena view before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) Recording artist Dinah Jane of music group Fifth Harmony performs the national anthem before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) warms up before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) 1 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Gabby Williams #1, Veronica Burton #22, Tiffany Hayes #15, and Kaila Charles #6 of the Golden State Valkyries react during the first quarter against the Atlanta Dream in game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 26, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 1 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Gabby Williams #1, Veronica Burton #22, Tiffany Hayes #15, and Kaila Charles #6 of the Golden State Valkyries react during the first quarter against the Atlanta Dream in game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 26, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 2 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Gabby Williams #1, Tiffany Hayes #15, and Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries react in front of Allisha Gray #15 of the Atlanta Dream during the first quarter in game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Oct. 26, 2026 in San Francisco, Calif. (Ezra Shaw, Getty Images) 3 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Arena view before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) 4 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Recording artist Dinah Jane of music group Fifth Harmony performs the national anthem before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) 5 / 5 WNBA Finals Game 5 photos as Valkyries and Dream fight on Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) warms up before game five of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. (Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images) Dream fans will be facing a school and work day as well in their decision to attend the home matchup. Head coach Karl Smesko offered his thoughts.
"I'd like to see it be a national holiday for all WNBA championship games," he told the media after Game 5. "So whatever somebody can do, I hope everybody gets to see it somehow and I know that for some people, it's not realistic. They have jobs and won't be able to make it. So I'm disappointed for that, but I'm really hopeful that as many people can see the game as possible."
The game was moved to the early afternoon slot because it conflicted with the Atlanta Hawks regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers also at State Farm Arena.
Before the Finals tipped off, the league announced that Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA championship series would be played at the NBA venue instead of the Dream's regular season home, Gateway Center Arena. Game 6 was going to be played at Gateway until hours before tipoff on Monday.
The Valkyries have a plan for their fans, " Call in sick ."
Veronica Burton sent the message to the Ballhalla faithful after the Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream , 64-55 , in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals to take the series edge. Burton spoke to the media in a press conference with Kiah Stokes.
"Call in sick," Burton said. "I recommend it."
"Yeah, right like," Stokes chimed in with a fake cough. "Y'all know how to fake a cough. Didn't we all do that?"
"Call in sick," Burton reiterated with a smile as the room erupted in laughter. "But we got the best fans in the league, so I'm sure they'll be supporting us whatever time."
One fan at the Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 5 had a suggestion. They held up a sign that said, "Move the Hawks game. Women = Prime Time."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Kerr on WNBA Finals matinee: 'They're doing what they gotta do'
Source: Sports
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