Even with Game 6 being announced on Thursday, the Valkyries are confident fans will find a way to watch

Shaunice Christmas-Miller and her wife, Kendall, have the flexibility in their jobs to work from home Thursday and watch Game 6 of the WNBA Finals despite early news on the West Coast.

That also doesn’t mean he’s happy with the Golden State-Atlanta game that kicks off at 9:30 a.m. PDT at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, several hours before the Cavaliers-Hawks NBA game Thursday night. Since the potential championship contest won’t happen in prime time, they know many other fans won’t be able to skip work and witness a potentially historic day in women’s basketball.

Shaunice Christmas-Miller, who works in human resources, wishes everyone involved had looked at the different options more in advance to avoid such a last-minute scramble.

“They should have anticipated the whole seven-game series,” she said. “Women deserve prime time slots.”

Several WNBA Finals games achieved record audiences, demonstrating the interest in the league, this series and its athletes. The Valkyries have sold out every game since debuting as an expansion franchise last year.

“They could never have had the NBA men’s finals at 9:30 in the morning,” said Kendall Christmas-Miller, an accounting manager at a medical technology company. “I’m glad they found accommodations, but there’s still work to be done to prioritize women’s sports, especially when they’re performing at this level and attracting audiences.”

Warriors coach Steve Kerr plans to tune in during breakfast.

“We’ll have a day off that day, so yeah, I’ll watch,” he said.

He will hardly be alone, according to Shaunice and Kendall. The San Jose couple has attended every home playoff game this season at Chase Center — nicknamed “Ballhalla” because of the raucous atmosphere created by Valkyries fans — and they believe the fan base will still be there on Thursday.

“Absolutely, they will definitely find a way,” Shaunice said.

Other fans are also frustrated

“MOVE THE HAWKS GAME WOMEN = PRIME TIME” read a sign at the arena Monday night, when the Valkyries moved closer to a championship victory by beating the Dream 64-55.

Others expressed their feelings on social media.

Rapper Flavor Flav posted Tuesday: “Thursday is a paid holiday. Because Flavor Flav said so.” His post included a photo of a note addressed to bosses around the world in the form of a sort of permission form requesting excused absences for employees, signed by Flavor Flav with two titles under his name – “The World’s Biggest Hype” and “Official Supporter of Women’s Sports.”

Ole Miss women’s coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin chimed in.

“I’d rather play somewhere else than get a tip at 12:30 for a player in the WNBA FINALS! Not a good idea! For the fans and for the players,” she posted on social media. “Just my 2 cents that no one asked for.”

Kendall Christmas-Miller said that while the decision to start the game early is disappointing, “women’s sports fans are resilient and we’re going to keep pushing and finding a way to show up.”

Valkyries focus on what they can control

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase and her players have always focused on what they can control, and this is definitely not one of those things.

But there were some nifty post-match deals:

“Call in sick, I recommend it,” cracked ringleader Veronica Burton.

“Yeah, right? You all know how to fake cough, don’t we all do that?” »added teammate Kiah Stokes.

Guard Kaila Charles has no doubt that the Valkyries will adapt to this first alert.

“I think it’s a good thing that we can play in a bigger arena so more people can come and support women’s basketball,” Charles said.

Golden State hosts early morning watch party

Valkyries co-owner Peter Guber walked into Chase Center Monday, unconcerned that the franchise’s devoted audience was gathering when it mattered most, despite morning challenges such as commuter traffic to get to San Francisco for a watch party.

Fans were invited to gather outside in the Chase Center’s Thrive City viewing area, under the big screen, which measures 74 feet wide and 42 feet high.

“Whatever they do, they come to where the action is and that’s the action,” Guber said, insisting that loyal Golden State fans will all be “up and ready to go.”

Nakase has made public appeals to the fanbase before, and she’s done it again.

“They are going to sacrifice the beauty of Ballhalla,” she said. “They’re going to sacrifice. They’re going to open that app, they’re going to open their phone, they’re going to watch. I have no doubt that everyone who supported us through this process – maybe we had some fans in the Finals – everyone is going to watch. … That’s what we do at Golden State, we sacrifice for the good of our team.

“So our fans, I don’t worry about that, our fans are going to show up, show up, we play for them because they show up, show up. They never miss a beat.”

And on Thursday, even around their morning coffee.

“We have the best fans in the league,” Burton said, “so I’m sure they’ll support us no matter when it comes.”