'Unacceptable, Embarrassing, And Disrespectful' -- ESPN Legend Linda Cohn Rips WNBA Over 'Frustrating' Game 6 Venue Uncertainty Aliasgar Ayaz Mon, October 26, 2026 at 2:55 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ESPN veteran Linda Cohn has criticized the WNBA after the Atlanta Dream's potential championship-clinching game was left without a confirmed venue.
With the Finals tied 2-2 against the Golden State Valkyries, Game 6 is guaranteed. However, a scheduling conflict could force Atlanta to host it in a much smaller arena, raising concerns about planning and fan access.
Cohn addressed the issue on her YouTube channel, arguing that the league should have prepared for the possibility of a sixth game well before the Finals reached this point.
"It would be so embarrassing, so unacceptable, and disrespectful, but it very well could happen," she said , describing the possibility of a championship game being played in a venue that holds only around 3,500 people.
The Dream usually play at Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of approximately 3,500. However, they have moved their home playoff games to State Farm Arena, home of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, which can accommodate roughly 17,000 fans.
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Games 3 and 4 of the Finals were held there, with Atlanta winning Game 3 before Golden State took Game 4, 67-62, to level the series.
The problem is that the Hawks are scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena on Thursday, October 29, which is currently set as the date for Game 6. The WNBA has not confirmed a final venue or whether the schedule will change.
Cohn questioned why the league had not settled on a backup plan earlier. "How do you not know where Game 6 is going to be? It really is going to be very sad. It really is. It is going to be unacceptable, embarrassing, and disrespectful for these players," she said.
Cohn acknowledged that coordinating the schedules of two professional leagues, teams, and broadcasters, as well as the arena, is complicated. But she argued that those challenges made advance planning more important, not less.
One possible solution is to move Game 6 to Friday, October 30, when State Farm Arena is available, and shift a potential Game 7 from Saturday, October 31, to a later date. However, any change would require both teams to agree, leaving the proposal unresolved.
For Cohn, the biggest concern is what the uncertainty means for fans and players. If the series returns to Atlanta with the championship on the line, she believes a 3,500-seat venue would be a poor setting for such a major occasion.
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"Think about the fans," she said, arguing that supporters should not be left with limited access to a potential title-clinching game.
Cohn also connected the issue to the league's efforts to grow its audience. "You want to grow this league, and you do things like this," she said, calling the situation "frustrating."
With Game 5 scheduled for Monday in San Francisco, the WNBA still faces pressure to find a solution before the Finals return to Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
Source: Sports
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