Atlanta Dream Gets Sweet Surprise Amid 2026 WNBA Playoffs

USA Basketball

The Atlanta Dream are doing things big in the Peach State, announcing a new multi-year agreement with State Farm Arena amid the team’s 2026 WNBA playoff run.

While the Atlanta Dream are riding the wave of excitement after their new partnership with the award-winning arena, they’re also facing a major challenge: their star player, Allisha Gray, has been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against the New York Liberty.

The Atlanta Dream Announce Their New Multi-Year Partnership With State Farm Arena Amid 2026 Playoffs

According to a new press release, State Farm Arena will become the home for all Atlanta Dream home games, starting during the 2027 season. As part of the expanded season, which sees teams play 50 regular-season games, 25 will be played in the 17,000+-seat arena.

The move comes amid the team’s “unprecedented growth,” which manifested in increased ticket sales and “overall excitement for the entire Dream fan experience.”

Over the past five years, the Dream has seen “more than 400% growth in season ticket members and expanded its reach to ticket buyers from all 50 states.”

The Dream Are Excited To Expand To Georgia’s State Farm Arena Following Another Year Of Exciting Play

Morgan Shaw Parker, President and COO of the Atlanta Dream, opened up about the move and called it an “exciting next chapter” for the WNBA team, which has an elite roster including Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Jordin Canada, and most recently, DeWanna Bonner.

“Our players and our fans have transformed Gateway Center Arena into the most exciting experience in the WNBA. State Farm Arena gives us the opportunity to welcome thousands of additional fans while creating an even bigger stage for women’s basketball in Atlanta. We look forward to bringing the energy, traditions and spirit of Gateway with us to the heart of our city,” Parker added.

A spokesperson for State Farm Arena and the Atlanta Hawks also discussed the headline-making move, saying the organization is “thrilled” the Dream chose the arena as its new home. “The WNBA is experiencing a meteoric rise with rapid growth in attendance and viewership, and this is a great opportunity to elevate the visibility of women’s basketball and bring that excitement to our world-class venue,” they continued.

The Atlanta Dream Will Face The New York Liberty At State Farm Arena On October 7, 2026

While the Dream are switching locations next season, they’re familiar with playing on the hardwood at State Farm Arena.

In late September, they swept the Washington Mystics in Round 1 of the WNBA Playoffs, with the first game being played at home.

They’re currently in Round 2 of the playoffs and will face off against the New York Liberty tomorrow, October 7th, after defeating them 92-82 in the first matchup.

It’s a best-of-five series, so should the Dream earn two more wins, they advance to the finals for the first time since 2013.

• Rapper Latto shuts down Angel Reese haters after a massive win.
• Atlanta Dream advance to the semifinals.
• Sophie Cunningham appeared to troll A’ja Wilson after explosive clash.
• Wilson broke her silence on the matter.

Heartbreak For The Atlanta Dream

The Dream will have to navigate a hungry and motivated New York Liberty team tomorrow without their star player, Allisha Gray, who went down on Sunday, October 4, with a hand injury.

Gray, drafted by the Dallas Wings in 2017, tried to play again in the first game of Round 2 after taping her ring and pinky fingers together, but exited the contest for good after a second fall.

Dream coach Karl Smesko told reporters she had a doctor’s appointment today, and the team would monitor her progress day by day.

The Dream Won’t Go Down Without A Fight

USA Basketball

Despite being down a player, the Dream won’t go down without a fight. A day before their first meeting, Angel Reese shut down the Liberty, saying she didn’t give a “d-mn” about any earlier comments.

“Nobody wants the Atlanta Dream in it. And we have that chip on our shoulder, and we’re just gonna continue to fight through it,” she said.

Reese’s statements also come after she earned her first-ever Defensive Player of the Year title, leading the league in rebounds and posting the highest defensive win shares.

She showed why she won this year’s award by a landslide, collecting three steals and four blocks.

The Dream face off against the Liberty on October 7 at 7:30 PM.

The Atlanta Dream Gets Sweet Surprise Amid 2026 WNBA Playoffs first appeared on The Blast