The Atlanta Dream are obviously happy to have extended the WNBA Finals to a Game 7 on Saturday.
The Golden State Valkyries might have preferred to wrap up their first championship in Game 6 on Thursday, but they will be pleased to play the WNBA's first Game 7 in front of their fans at Chase Center in San Francisco.
But it may well be outgoing WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert who breathes the biggest sigh of relief after the Dream beat the Valkyries, 80-69, to send the Finals back to the Bay Area.
MORE: Dream's Angel Reese sets Finals record to ensure WNBA’s first Game 7
Engelbert's office and Dream ownership were involved in a bitter war of words before Game 6 at State Farm Arena. The WNBA announced that Game 6 would tip off at the highly unusual time of 12:30 pm ET -- a decision that was roundly criticized online.
One explanation for why the WNBA decided not to move Game 6 to an open date on Friday has to do with a conflict on Nov. 3, when Game 7 would have been held. Engelbert did not want Game 7 played on Election Night in the United States.
they playing a wnba finals game while mcdonalds still serving breakfast
— aarøn. (@ayroned) October 29, 2026Had the Valkyries won Game 6, Golden State players and coaches likely would have celebrated their title win on a practice court, as arena personnel would be up against the clock to turn around the court ahead of an Atlanta Hawks home game later on Thursday.
For a league that is experiencing record revenues and broadcast ratings, this would have been an unimaginable step backward for the WNBA.
You know the WNBA is rigged for a game 7 because Nakase never called a timeout to slow the momentum in the first quarter lol
— Selena (@LuvAtFirstServe) October 29, 2026But fortunately for Engelbert and league PR, the Dream led practically the whole way in Game 6 and forced that seventh game, which will lead to higher ratings and more revenue as the league prepares to crown a first-time champion.
