Craig Carton Criticizes WNBA Finals Scheduling Mishap

Craig Carton of OutKick criticized the WNBA during his Monday show, highlighting the scheduling and venue issues that affected the Atlanta Dream during the WNBA Finals. Carton targeted the WNBA officials for failing to secure State Farm Arena for potential Finals games, resulting in matches being played at a smaller venue.

Carton explained how State Farm Arena’s executives booked other events on potential Finals dates, prioritizing concerts and other engagements over the Dream’s games. This decision forced the championship matches into a smaller venue with limited capacity.

The Atlanta Dream will not be playing at State Farm Arena, although they demonstrated they could fill the space in the past. Instead, they are forced to use Gateway Center Arena, a venue with a maximum capacity of only 3,500 spectators. Carton noted that other venues within 30 miles of State Farm Arena could accommodate 10,000 to 12,000 people.

Carton criticized the situation further, mentioning that the NBA owns the WNBA, and a simple phone call could have expedited arrangements to ensure the Finals took place at State Farm Arena. Yet this did not happen, highlighting a lapse in management and prioritization.

Additionally, Carton criticized the league’s narrative-driven approach, arguing that this led to decreased viewership figures. While half a million people watched the Atlanta Dream against the New York Liberty, Carton suggested the absence of popular players affected interest.

The WNBA Finals are set to begin on October 17. Carton’s observations raise questions about the prioritization of women’s professional basketball and its star players.