Rodney Knuppel Fri, October 16, 2026 at 11:22 AM UTC · 4 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WNBA Finals guarantee historic champion as Angel Reese and Dream face remarkable Valkyries originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The 2026 WNBA Finals will produce something neither participating franchise has experienced before.
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will meet in a best-of-seven series beginning Saturday, October 17, with both organizations attempting to capture their first WNBA title.
Golden State's appearance is particularly remarkable because the franchise is competing in only its second season. Atlanta has a much longer history, but the Dream have never won the championship despite previously reaching the Finals three times.
Now one of those organizations will finally celebrate a title. The matchup also brings together two teams that eliminated recent WNBA champions to reach the final round.
Golden State swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, while Atlanta eliminated the New York Liberty in three games.
Angel Reese has played an important role in Atlanta's postseason success. The Dream forward delivered 22 points in the decisive semifinal victory over New York, helping Atlanta complete an 85-83 win and secure its first Finals appearance since 2013.
Rhyne Howard added 21 points in that game, while Jordin Canada contributed 19 points and 11 assists. Atlanta's ability to receive important performances from several players has been one of its strengths.
The Dream also demonstrated their resilience by advancing without Allisha Gray in the semifinal clincher. Reese brings rebounding, physicality and energy to a team that has already overcome difficult opponents.
However, Golden State presents another challenge. The Valkyries have demonstrated that they can compete against established championship contenders, and their semifinal performance against Las Vegas was particularly impressive.
Few expansion franchises reach a championship series so quickly. Golden State has managed to accomplish that feat while building a roster featuring Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes.
The Valkyries completed their semifinal sweep with an 87-77 overtime victory over Las Vegas. Stokes produced 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in that game, providing important interior defense against A'ja Wilson and the Aces.
Golden State outscored Las Vegas 16-6 during overtime, demonstrating the composure and depth that have helped define its postseason run.
The Valkyries now have home-court advantage in the Finals. That gives Golden State an opportunity to establish momentum before the series moves to Atlanta. The first two games will be played in San Francisco, with Game 1 scheduled for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
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The WNBA has already announced adjustments to the championship schedule. Game 2 will take place Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET in San Francisco. Game 3 has been moved to Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET, while Game 4 will take place Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. ET.
Atlanta's home games will be played at State Farm Arena, a larger venue than the Dream's usual home court. The scheduling changes also required cooperation from the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, who adjusted the start time of their October 24 home opener.
For the WNBA, the matchup represents an opportunity to showcase two organizations that have taken different paths to the championship stage. Atlanta has waited more than a decade to return to the Finals. Golden State has reached the same stage almost immediately after joining the league.
Only one team can win four games and claim the championship. Regardless of the outcome, the WNBA will have a first-time champion in 2026.
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Source: Sport
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