• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Fever-Dream Scheduling Conflict: High School Graduations

The reason the Atlanta Dream’s home opener against the Indiana Fever was scheduled at State Farm Arena? Four high school graduations.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) rushes up the court against Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) on Thursday, May 9, 2024, during the preseason game against the Atlanta Dream at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Indiana Fever defeated the Atlanta Dream, 83-80.
The Indianapolis Star

The Atlanta Dream weren’t kidding about a “scheduling conflict” for their home opener. They had to make way for several high school graduations.

The Dream announced Wednesday that their home opener on May 22 against the Indiana Fever has been scheduled to play at State Farm Arena, home of the NBA’s Hawks, which fits about 17,000 fans, more than four times as much as the 4,000 who fit in Gateway Center Arena, their current home. 

However, the team received backlash after the announcement, in which Dream majority owner Larry Gottesdiener said the change was made due to a “scheduling conflict at Gateway.”

Some fans believed Atlanta didn’t want to admit that the game at State Farm Arena was due to the popularity of Fever star Caitlin Clark. Four other teams have already moved home games to bigger arenas this year, and all of them moved at least one against Indiana.

But it appears there really is a scheduling conflict: the Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS) high school graduations

CCPS announced Nov. 13 that the final three days (May 21–23) of its five-day high school graduations would be held at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) in College Park. The WNBA and its teams announced the 2025 regular-season schedule in early December.

The GICC operates the Gateway Center Arena and the two share the same parking lot, although it’s unclear whether the arena will also be used for the graduations.

On May 22, the day of the scheduled Fever–Dream game, four high schools will hold graduations at the GICC, with the first scheduled to start at 8 a.m. ET and the last at 8 p.m. The Dream home opener is scheduled to tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Dream declined to comment, while the CCPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The CCPS graduation announcement said it serves more than 50,000 students from pre-K to the 12th grade and is among the 100 largest school districts in the country.

Search for a New Home

The schedule conflict shines a spotlight on the Dream’s quest for a new arena. Atlanta team president Morgan Shaw Parker previously told Front Office Sports that the team is in search of a new home that would fit 12,000 to 14,000 fans. 

The team is open to partnering with existing arenas in Atlanta or the Greater Atlanta area and is even open to building its own venue. Shaw Parker said the timing of its move is still up in the air, but the team’s lease at Gateway Center Arena is “year-to-year.”

Atlanta is one of five WNBA teams that Shaw Parker described as “independent,” meaning their ownership group does not own another major pro sports franchise in the same city. The other four teams are the Chicago Sky, Connecticut Sun, Seattle Storm, and Dallas Wings.

Independent teams face a bigger logistical challenge in moving games than the Washington Mystics, for example, who moved two 2025 games to EagleBank Arena, a venue in Virginia managed by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the Mystics’ parent company.

The Sun had an odd scheduling conflict with the Mohegan Sun Arena last year. Five-time All-Star Alyssa Thomas, who moved from the Sun to the Phoenix Mercury this season in a sign-and-trade, told The Next last year the team had to share their practice court with a 2-year-old’s birthday party ahead of a playoff game.

“Mohegan has to do better,” Thomas said. “[It’s the] ultimate disrespect.”

Despite the conflict, Atlanta is in the middle of its best offseason in franchise history after signing 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner and three-time All-Star Brionna Jones.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

exclusive

WNBA’s Fire Prematurely Announce Head Coach Hire on LinkedIn

Portland is expected to hire Alex Sarama from the Cavaliers, FOS confirmed.
Oct 10, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with teammates after game four of the 2025 WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center.

WNBA Finals Draws 1.5M Viewers, Second-Highest Series on ESPN

The four-game series averaged 1.5 million viewers.
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts during the first quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament against the Texas Longhorns at Amalie Arena.

Dawn Staley Says NBA Far From Ready to Hire a Female Head..

South Carolina’s women’s basketball coach interviewed with the Knicks.

Featured Today

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) celebrates with her teammates after her last second shot to take the lead 90-88 against the Phoenix Mercury in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Oct. 8, 2025.
exclusive

Standoff Over WNBA’s Future Has Dominated Finals

CBA negotiations have stolen the spotlight from the Aces’ dominant performance.
Paul Cartier
October 5, 2025

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.

RAJ Sports Withdraws Lawsuit Over Trail Blazers Stake

RAJ Sports had sued the Cherng family, owner of Panda Express.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea.
October 9, 2025

Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their..

Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals this week.
October 13, 2025

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
October 9, 2025

The Yankees’ $319M Roster Flopped. Now Comes the Hard Part: 2026

The MLB club’s current contracts limit its flexibility somewhat for next year.
October 6, 2025

Connor McDavid Signs Short-Term Deal, Eyeing Oilers’ Cup Window

The three-time Most Valuable Player signs for below his market value.
October 1, 2025

Cardinals Vow Changes Coming After Historic Attendance Drop

A stalwart franchise looks to correct an alarming slide in attendance.
September 30, 2025

Tyreek Hill’s Injury Complicates Financial Future With Dolphins

Releasing the receiver after this season would cost $28 million.