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ESPN writer Ramona Shelburne posted:
"Fun little aside: During the frantic negotiations over the weekend, an unlikely ally emerged-- the @WWE. At one point, sources told ESPN that Steve Koonin Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO reached out to WWE President Nick Khan and asked if he'd be willing to move the telecast of this week's Smackdown to accommodate Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Friday night. Smackdown usually airs at 8 p.m. on Friday nights on USA Network, which is the broadcast network for this game. If Game 6 were to be played from 7-9 pm at State Farm Arena, the WWE would have to move an hour later. Koonin, the former President of TBS, had known Khan for decades. Khan told him they'd be fine with the later broadcast window if that’s what was needed to help the WNBA Finals play in a more appropriate arena. After that sign off however, new concerns were raised by WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert about playing a potential Game 7 on Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Night. So that plan fell apart and the league moved back on to the idea of playing at 12:30 pm on Thursday. Smackdown will remain at its regularly scheduled time. The Dream announced earlier Wednesday that Thursday’s Game 6 is sold out."
Fun little aside: During the frantic negotiations over the weekend, an unlikely ally emerged-- the @WWE . At one point, sources told ESPN that Steve Koonin Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO reached out to WWE President Nick Khan and asked if he'd be willing to move the…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) October 29, 2026
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