Sparks legend Candace Parker has voiced strong criticism regarding the WNBA's playoff scheduling, asserting that the league's entire postseason calendar has been problematic. Her comments come as Game 6 of the WNBA Finals is set for an unusual 9:30 a.m. PT start time on Thursday.
This early start is due to a scheduling conflict with the Hawks' NBA matchup at State Farm Arena later that day. The timing is expected to limit the number of fans who can watch the potential series-clinching game either in person or on television.
During an appearance on the Post Moves Show, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley suggested the WNBA should have postponed the game to a later date. However, Parker argued that the issues with the schedule extend beyond this single game.
"The WNBA as a whole during this playoffs," Parker stated. "The scheduling, football on Monday night. We went head to head against the opening week of basketball. We went head to head against MLB. They played on a Saturday for NCAA. Their Game 7 is going to be on Halloween."
Adding to the scheduling concerns, if the Golden State Valkyries win Game 6, their championship celebration could be impacted. The need to prepare State Farm Arena for the later NBA game might force the Valkyries to move their celebration to an alternate location, depending on the duration of the basketball game.
The Atlanta Dream reportedly explored other venues for the WNBA Finals but were unable to secure an alternative for Game 6. As State Farm Arena is not their primary venue, the team had limited influence over the scheduling decisions.
Parker's observations highlight the challenges the WNBA faces in late October, a period of intense competition for viewership with the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL seasons all active.