The Atlanta Dream, who will play its home games at the brand new Gateway Center Arena in College Park, will tip off its season on the road against the Indiana Fever on Friday, May 15.
Head Coach Nicki Collen and the Dream will make their first regular-season appearance in their new home on Saturday, May 16 against the Chicago Sky beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
“Our home opener against Chicago will be an exciting opportunity for our fans to see the best players in the world on our new stage at the Gateway Center @ College Park,” Collen said. “I am thrilled to see the impact they can make in a smaller venue.”
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The WNBA announced an expanded schedule in 2020, with all teams playing an all-time high 36 regular-season games, with 18 home games and 18 road games. This season is split by an Olympic break to allow players to play in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. Atlanta will play its final game before the Olympic hiatus on July 10 at Chicago before returning to action 37 days later at Washington on August 16.
“This year’s schedule is certainly a challenge but one we are looking forward to,” Collen said. “With the addition of two games this season we are now playing 36 games in 93 days, so it will be fast and furious, with an obvious mid-season break for the Olympics.”
The Dream will play three different Eastern Conference teams four times due to the new format. This year’s schedule will include an added game between the Dream and the Sky, Washington Mystics and New York Liberty.
The WNBA’s new Commissioner’s Cup will consist of designating a portion of regular-season games – 10 games per team – as counting towards Cup play. The team from each conference with the top record in designated “Cup games” will then compete for the Commissioner’s Cup title and a special prize pool. Cup games will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals, all completed from May 15 – July 10 before the Olympic break. The Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game is tentatively scheduled to be played on Friday, August 14. Further information on the Cup will be forthcoming.
The 2020 home schedule includes nine games against Western Conference opponents and 11 weekend dates, including a pair of games against Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm (June 9/Aug 20). Fans will have one chance to see Candace Parker and the Los Angeles Sparks at Gateway Center Arena on Friday, August 28.
Douglasville, Ga. native Asia Durr (St. Pius X) and the New York Liberty will visit Atlanta twice (May 29/Sept 11), while the Dream will both open and close its home slate against former Norcross High School standout Diamond DeShields and the Chicago Sky (May 16/Sept 20).
The reigning WNBA Champion Washington Mystics and WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne will travel to Atlanta twice before the Olympic break this season (May 22/July 3), while Jonquel Jones and the 2019 WNBA Runner-Up Connecticut Sun will visit once on Sunday, June 21.
The 2020 Atlanta Dream preseason schedule and theme games will be announced at a later date.