Angel Reese calls Atlanta’s Finals venue change bittersweet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Angel Reese is excited to see more fans at the Atlanta Dream’s WNBA Finals home games, even as the team prepares to leave the arena it has called home this season. Atlanta will host Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena instead of Gateway Center Arena, giving the championship series a much larger setting and allowing more supporters to see the Dream play on the sport’s biggest stage.
Reese has a connection to Gateway Center
Reese described the venue change as bittersweet. She said she loves Gateway Center Arena and the intimacy it offers, and that she would have been grateful to play the Finals there. She also said she is looking forward to seeing fans show up at State Farm Arena and support the team.
"It's a bittersweet moment because I do love Gateway so much....but I am looking forward to everyone showing up and supporting us at State Farm. @AtlantaDream star Angel Reese to @AlisonWSB about @WNBA Finals Games 3/4 moving to SFA. FULL ANSWER ⬇️@wsbtv https://t.co/MKeoEOWSC4
— Luke Hetrick (@LHSportsTV) October 13, 2026
That reaction captures what the move means for the Dream. Gateway Center has been their home, and Reese’s comments reflected the connection the players have built with the arena and its fans. At the same time, the Finals give Atlanta an opportunity to welcome a much larger crowd for the franchise’s first championship series appearance since 2013.
The difference in capacity is significant. Gateway Center Arena holds about 3,500 people, while State Farm Arena can accommodate roughly 17,000. The change means thousands more fans could have a chance to attend the Dream’s first two home games of the series.
MORE: Angel Reese's WNBA Finals appearance comes with unexpected controversy for Atlanta Dream
A schedule change brings the series to Atlanta sooner
The WNBA moved Game 3 from Thursday, Oct. 22, to Wednesday, Oct. 21, to avoid a scheduling conflict at State Farm Arena. Game 4 remains on Saturday, Oct. 24, but its tipoff was moved to 1 p.m. ET. The Atlanta Hawks also adjusted the start time of their home opener that evening to accommodate the Dream.
The Finals begin at Chase Center, where the Golden State Valkyries will host Games 1 and 2. Atlanta then gets the opportunity to play in front of its home crowd, with the Dream hoping the larger venue can create a memorable atmosphere as the franchise pursues its first championship.
The move gives Atlanta more room for a Finals crowd, but Reese’s comments make clear that Gateway Center still means a lot to the team. The Dream now get to bring that home-court support to a much bigger stage, with a championship series and a new opportunity to connect with fans across the region.