The Path to an Atlanta Dream Home Playoff Game

Published on September 12, 2023 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release

The Atlanta Dream have earned a berth in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, taking the #5 seed in the eight-team tournament.

Atlanta will take on the #4 seed Dallas Wings in a best-of-three series beginning Friday night in Dallas.

However, the WNBA's playoff format is unique. And that means there is one step remaining before Atlanta hosts its first WNBA Playoff game since 2018. But if that home game is played, it would decide the series.

Other leagues have, or are currently using, best-of-three game series formats in their playoffs. Major League Baseball, for instance, uses one for their Wild Card round.

What makes the WNBA's format unique is the potential for the tie-breaking final game of the series to be played in the home of the lower seeded team.

That's because the first two games are played at the home of the higher seeded team, so that team (the Dallas Wings in this case) could win the first two games on their court and win the series without ever playing at the home of the lower seed.

But if the lower seed, Atlanta for instance, wins one of the first two games on the road, they would host the series-deciding Game 3. Giving the lower seed the home court advantage in a series that goes the distance is certainly a rarity in sports.

ROUND 1 SERIES SCHEDULE:

GAME 1: Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings - Friday 9/15, 9:30PM

GAME 2: Atlanta Dream at Dallas Wings - Tuesday 9/19, 9:00PM

GAME 3: Dallas Wings at Atlanta Dream (if necessary) - Friday 9/22 (time TBD)

Win either Game 1 or Game 2 in Dallas, and Atlanta will host its biggest WNBA game in at least five years. A series-deciding Game 3 will send the winner to the WNBA Semi-Finals, likely to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from September 12, 2023

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• Dallas Wings Arike Ogunbowale & Satou Sabally Named to the Associated Press All-WNBA Second Team - Dallas Wings
• Dallas Wings Satou Sabally Wins Associated Press Most Improved Player of the Year - Dallas Wings
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• Haley Jones Awarded AP All-Rookie Team Honors - Atlanta Dream
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• The Path to an Atlanta Dream Home Playoff Game - Atlanta Dream
• Atlanta Dream Clinch First Playoff Berth in Five Years; Ninth in Team History - Atlanta Dream
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• Timberwolves, Lynx and KAGR Extend Partnership to Create Transformative Growth and Double Fanbase over Next Five Years - Minnesota Lynx
• Last Week around the Leagues - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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