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In a postseason filled with unexpected results and historic performances, two teams remain in the running for the WNBA title: the No. 2 Golden State Valkyries and the No. 4 Atlanta Dream.
In fact, these two teams didn’t just advance to the WNBA Finals; They’ve dominated their ways throughout the postseason.
Starting things off in the first round, the Dream defeated the Washington Mystics 2-0 in a series dominated by Atlanta’s guard play. In the semifinals against the New York Liberty, Atlanta was without Allisha Gray for Game 2 and Game 3 due to a left hand injury suffered midway through Game 1. As a result, the Dream needed someone to step up and it was Jordin Canada and DeWanna Bonner. Canada and Bonner’s promotion was seamless, with the Dream continuing their undefeated postseason streak and advancing to their first WNBA Finals since 2013 by defeating the Liberty 3-0.
On the other side of the bracket, the Valkyries also have their share of elite performances and comebacks. Against the Dallas Wings in the first round, Golden State cruised to a 104-80 victory in Game 1 with 22 points from Cecilia Zandalasini and 20 bombs from Gabby Williams. However, the Wings bounced back and took Game 2 to prevent a sweep as Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale put on a masterclass 45-point performance that broke the WNBA’s single-game postseason scoring record. In a win-or-go-home Game 3 scenario for both teams, Golden State rallied from a 16-point deficit to edge Dallas 77-73 to advance to the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces.
Defending champion Las Vegas was one of the favorites to advance to the Finals again. Although the Valkyries were the second seed and the Aces the third seed, many assumed that Las Vegas could easily take the series as Golden State failed to beat them in any of the three regular season meetings. However, thanks to a complete team effort and incredible defense, the Valkyries were able to not only limit the Aces’ Big Three, but defeat Las Vegas 3-0 to advance to the WNBA Finals in their second season as a franchise.
With both teams going through some of the toughest competition in the league to reach the WNBA Finals, the question now is: How do the Valkyries and the Dream stack up against each other, and which team has what it takes to capture their first WNBA title?
Series Table:
- Game One: Chase Center – Saturday, October 17, 3:30 PM ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Game Two: Chase Center – Monday, October 19, 8:00 PM ET (USA/Peacock)
- Game Three: State Farm Arena – Thursday, October 21, 8:00 PM ET (USA/Peacock)
- Game Four: State Farm Arena – Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM ET (NBC/Peacock)
- Game Five (if necessary): Chase Center – Monday, October 26, 8:00 PM ET (USA/Peacock)
- Game Six (if applicable): Site TBD – Thursday, October 29, 8:00 PM ET (USA/Peacock)
- Game Seven (if applicable): Chase Center – Saturday, October 31, 8:00 p.m. ET (USA/Peacock)
Matches that define series
One of the biggest matchups to watch in this series will be Angel Reese against Golden State’s defensive frontcourt. Reese, who won the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year award, was a dominant force on the boards, grabbing a league-leading 12.1 rebounds per game during the regular season, including 4.8 offensive rebounds. With second-chance opportunities a key part of Atlanta’s success, Kiah Stokes and the Valkyries’ defense will need to limit Reese’s impact in the paint. With Stokes averaging two blocks per game in the postseason, he is capable of challenging not only Reese, but any other opponent who attempts to attack the basket. While the dream may have some height on the Valkyries, we’ve seen time and time again throughout the regular season and even the postseason that no amount of size mismatch can rule that out with this Golden State team coming together and showing unity. In fact, Golden State swept the regular season series 3-0, showing they have the defensive tools to deal with Atlanta.
Williams, on the other hand, has been a difference-maker for Golden State all season long. Williams, who averaged 22.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game in the playoffs, has consistently stepped up when his team needs him most. Along with Kayla Thornton and the Valkyries’ depth, Williams will look to challenge the Reese-led Atlanta defense. While the Valkyries don’t have notable superstar forwards like Dream did with Reese, their consistent contributions from the likes of Thornton and Janelle Salaun will allow Golden State to compete not only in the post, but throughout this series.
With both teams relying on balanced contributions, this matchup could come down to the supporting cast making the biggest impact.
Potential Game Changers
Rhyne Howard for Atlanta and Canada will be two players to watch. With Gray’s health and availability an important storyline, Howard and Canada have already shown they can step up when needed. In Game 3 against New York, Howard finished with 21 points, while Canada finished with 19 points and 11 assists. Canada may be the biggest factor in the Dream’s success in the Finals, as Atlanta would not have made it out of the semifinals without him. Canada, who nearly had a double-double in the playoffs with 19.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game, did it all for the Dream when they needed it most. Along with Canada’s success not only scoring but setting up his teammates, Howard also played a big role for Atlanta, averaging 19.2 points and 2.2 steals to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in the postseason. Despite Gray’s absence, the intensity these two brought did wonders for the Dream. For their hopes of winning the WNBA Finals to stay alive, they need to maintain their level of production with Reese to have a strong chance to beat Golden State.
For the Valkyries, Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes could be the two biggest difference makers in this series. Burton was a consistent presence in Golden State’s backcourt during the regular season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game. The ability to facilitate the offense while pressuring opposing guards will be crucial against an Atlanta team led by Gray, Canada and Howard. Burton’s defensive intensity and playmaking could help disrupt the Dream’s offensive rhythm, especially if Gray is sidelined or limited by injury. Meanwhile, Hayes proved that Golden State’s depth is one of its greatest strengths. The veteran guard scored 21 points off the bench in just 17 minutes in the Valkyries’ Game 2 semifinal win over Las Vegas to help Golden State take a 2-0 series lead. The ability to provide instant arm spark gives Valkyries another option when their attacks need to be boosted. Along with Burton, Williams, Thornton and Salaun, Hayes represents a supporting cast that makes defending Golden State difficult. If those contributions continue, the Valkyries could have the depth needed to overcome Atlanta’s star power.
Matchup Outlook and Predictions
Although both teams have earned their spot in the WNBA Finals, Golden State enters the series with a sizable advantage after sweeping Atlanta in all three regular season meetings. The Valkyries lost all three regular season games against Las Vegas, but showed their defense can compete with some of the league’s best offenses. This turnaround shows how much Golden State has grown throughout the season and how effectively they can adjust to overcome the odds in a playoff series.
However, Atlanta’s postseason run proves that the Dream cannot be underestimated. Reese’s dominance on the boards, Howard’s scoring and Canada’s playmaking give Atlanta several ways to challenge Golden State. The Dream also showed they can overcome adversity by sweeping Liberty in the last two games despite Gray’s absence. If Atlanta can control the glass and limit Golden State’s transition opportunities, they have a real chance to make this a competitive series.
Finally, Golden State is the No. 2 seed for a reason. His defensive consistency, depth and home court advantage could easily give the Valkyries the edge. However, Atlanta has the talent to push the series, but Golden State’s ability to win with a collective effort instead of relying on one player could be the key. Because of this, we will likely see the Valkyries win the WNBA Finals, win their first WNBA championship in their second season, and continue one of the most remarkable expansion teams in league history.