Dream vs Valkyries Game 6 bumped from prime time to Thursday afternoon but WNBA stays silent on why

Game 6 between the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will tip off at 12:30 p.m.ET Thursday at State Farm Arena, rather than its originally scheduled 8 p.m.

start.For Golden State fans watching back home, that’s 9:30 a.m.

PT.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.WNBA'S BIZARRE NATIONAL ANTHEM CONTROVERSY SHOWS JUST HOW MUCH THE LEAGUE NEEDS CAITLIN CLARKThe game will still air on the USA Network and stream on Peacock.Golden State can clinch its first WNBA championship against Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream in Game 6, which was moved from prime time to 12:30 p.m.ET Thursday.

(Getty Images)The Valkyries lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and can win their first championship Thursday.Atlanta needs a victory to force Game 7, which will be played Saturday at 8 p.m.

ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.Unless the WNBA runs into yet another scheduling issue, of course.OutKick asked Versant, USA Network’s parent company, what role it had in choosing or approving the new start time and whether it supported the move.

A source at the company said the scheduling change was the WNBA’s decision, but did not say whether USA Network approved the new start time or supported the move.DREAM COACH KARL SMESKO CALLS WNBA FINALS OFFICIATING ‘JUST RIDICULOUS’ AS ANGEL REESE ALSO QUESTIONS REFSWhy did the WNBA decide that a weekday afternoon was the best time for one of its biggest games?The league has not responded to OutKick’s questions about the decision, the alternatives considered or concerns about the potential impact on viewership.The immediate scheduling problem was another basketball game.The NBA’s Atlanta Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena that night.

The Hawks agreed to move their start time to 8 p.m.to accommodate the WNBA game and the arena turnaround.Sta...