WNBA moves Finals Game 6 to 12:30 p.m. ET

The WNBA moved Game 6 of the Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream to a 12:30 p.m. ET start on October 29, replacing its scheduled 8 p.m. tipoff. The league cited venue scheduling constraints at State Farm Arena, where the Atlanta Hawks are due to host the Cleveland Cavaliers that evening. Golden State leads the series 3-2 after winning Games 4 and 5 and can secure its first WNBA championship with a victory Thursday. An Atlanta win would force Game 7, scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco. The revised start time puts the potential deciding game in the middle of the workday for many viewers. The Dream announced that Game 6 is sold out, with about 17,000 spectators expected at State Farm Arena. The teams also played Games 3 and 4 there; Atlanta’s usual home, Gateway Center Arena, has about 3,500 seats. The WNBA’s schedule change allows the Finals game and Hawks game to be held at the same venue on Thursday, with the Hawks’ tipoff moved from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The earlier start drew criticism from some commentators and prompted discussion among fans about access to the game. Sports media personality Craig Carton argued that a...