Valkyries fans angry over primetime snub for WNBA Finals Game 6: 'It's sexist'
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The Golden State Valkyries have a chance to clinch their first-ever WNBA Championship in Atlanta on Thursday -- and they can do it before their Bay Area fans have even had lunch.
The game will tip off at 9:30 a.m. PT and 12:30 p.m. ET to avoid conflicts with the Atlanta Hawks' game in the same arena that night.
Fans as well as the Atlanta Dream are not happy about the early timing.
In an open letter to the city on Tuesday, the Dream said it raised concerns about schedule conflicts two months ago.
The team wrote: "Our concerns did not receive the attention nor the urgency that they deserved. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for its team."
RELATED: Valkyries will have a chance to win the WNBA Finals Thursday as Game 6 tips off at 9:30 a.m. PT
Back in the Bay Area, fans are changing their plans to cheer on the Valks for Thursday's game.
"I think it's completely ridiculous," said Valks fan Andrew Louis.
Anger is coming out of San Francisco as Golden State Valkyries fans react to the WNBA scheduling Game 6 of the Finals in Atlanta. It's a breakfast or lunch game, depending on where you're watching from.
"Intentional or not, I think it's sexist, and I don't think they'd ever do this in men's sports," Louis said.
"It's unfortunate, because women's sports should be prime time. And something as big as the championship," said Valks fan Daivya Allmond.
"9:30 Pacific Time is pretty rough, and the fact that they may not be able to celebrate on the court is, I think, that takes away a little bit of the joy of it," said Valks fan Kari Lentz.
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"It's brutal. I think they deserve a primetime spot," said Valks fan Brian Chae.
The game is at State Farm Arena. Games 3 and 4 were electric to say the least, both at night and in prime time. On Thursday, though, the NBA's Atlanta Hawks have a game at night, and no agreement on a switch could be made.
Here in San Francisco, the Valks have adjusted, holding a morning watch party at Chase Center for fans. Bars, like Hi Tops in the Castro District, are adjusting too.
"We'll be opening at 8:30 in the morning for the Valkyries game," said Kelly Corso of Hi Tops.
"What's striking to me is that even after all the outcry about the start time, there hasn't really been a response from the league. Not even like, 'We're sorry. We'll try to make an effort to change it,' nothing," Louis said.
Still though, fans in the Bay Area are fired up about their team being on the brink of a possible championship.
