The 2026 WNBA Finals is a matchup the league has never seen before: the second-year Golden State Valkyries, the fastest expansion team ever to reach a Finals, against the Atlanta Dream, a franchise chasing its first championship after a 13-year wait. Golden State drew first blood with a gritty 68-64 win at Chase Center in Saturday's Game 1, and both teams now stand three victories from a title neither has ever won.
It is a series defined by defense, star power, and two very different journeys. The Valkyries, the No. 2 seed built on a league-best defense, are powered by two-way star Gabby Williams, who erupted for 26 points in Game 1. The Dream counter with 2026 Kia Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese and All-Star guard Rhyne Howard. One of these franchises is about to make history — the only question is which.
An Expansion Team and a 13-Year Wait Collide
The Golden State Valkyries' rise is unprecedented in WNBA history. Announced as an expansion franchise on October 5, 2023, and beginning play in 2025, the Valkyries reached the playoffs in their first season — the first expansion team ever to do so — and have now reached the Finals in just their second year. No expansion franchise has ever won a WNBA championship, and Golden State is four wins away from being the first.
Guiding them is head coach Natalie Nakase, the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year. A former Los Angeles Clippers assistant who helped the Las Vegas Aces win two titles as an assistant coach, Nakase transformed an expansion roster into a 32-12 juggernaut. The Valkyries sold out all 22 of their home games at Chase Center in their debut season, and that same fan base is now roaring through the franchise's first Finals run.
Atlanta's path is a study in persistence. The Dream reached three WNBA Finals in four seasons — 2010, 2011, and 2013 — and were swept in all three, still chasing the franchise's first title. This is their first Finals berth since 2013, secured with a semifinal sweep of the defending-champion New York Liberty that ended with an 85-83 win at Barclays Center on October 9. Reese, in her first season with Atlanta, anchors a deep core alongside Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada.
How Both Finalists Got Here: The Road to the 2026 Finals
The 2026 postseason has been a tournament of upsets and sweeps, and both finalists stormed through the bracket.
Golden State Valkyries (No. 2 seed, 32-12): The Valkyries swept the No. 3 seed Las Vegas Aces — the 2025 champions — in the semifinals to punch their first Finals ticket, completing a two-year climb from expansion newcomer to title contender.
Atlanta Dream (No. 4 seed): The Dream swept the No. 8 seed Liberty in the semifinals, finishing the job with an 85-83 Game 3 win at Barclays Center. The Liberty, the 2024 champions, had earlier swept the No. 1 seed Minnesota Lynx in the first round, clearing the path for Atlanta's first Finals appearance since 2013.
Game 1, played October 17 at Chase Center, delivered on the hype. Williams poured in 26 points — including 16 in the second quarter — to power Golden State, while Reese posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double that ultimately wasn't enough as the Valkyries held on for a 68-64 victory and a 1-0 series lead.
Why the 2026 WNBA Finals Is a Watershed Moment
Beyond the box score, this series reflects how much the WNBA has grown. A Bay Area expansion team selling out Chase Center and reaching the Finals in two years, a star like Reese generating MVP-level buzz in her first Atlanta season, and two defense-first clubs playing for history all point to a league surging in both talent and popularity.
The head-to-head is compelling on both ends of the floor. Reese — the league's rebounding leader at 12.1 boards per game and a top-three steals leader — anchors a Dream defense that also features Howard and Canada on the All-Defensive Team. Williams, long praised for her elite defense, has now shown she can take over a Finals game offensively. "We always knew we were going to find a way somehow," Williams said after Game 1 as the Chase Center crowd chanted her name.
Reese's Defensive Player of the Year campaign was historic in its own right. In her third WNBA season and first with Atlanta, she led the league in rebounding, ranked third in steals (1.8 per game, 77 total), and finished first in the WNBA in defensive win shares (3.39) while setting single-season records for total rebounds. Williams, an American-French standout who has starred for the French national team and overseas clubs, has evolved from a defense-first specialist into a genuine Finals closer.
The stakes are historic on both sides. Golden State can become the first expansion franchise to win a championship in its second season; Atlanta can erase an 0-3 Finals record and deliver the city its first WNBA title. For a league that has never before staged a Finals without a previous champion involved on either side, the matchup is a testament to how deep the talent pool has become.
Where the Series Stands After Game 1
The Valkyries lead the best-of-five series 1-0 after their 68-64 Game 1 win. Williams was the difference-maker with 26 points, four rebounds, and three three-pointers, while Kiah Stokes added key contributions inside. For Atlanta, Reese's double-double led the way, but the Dream's offense stalled late against Golden State's top-ranked defense.
The series now continues in Golden State for Game 2 before shifting to Atlanta:
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 17 — Valkyries 68, Dream 64 (Golden State leads 1-0)
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 19 — at Golden State (8 p.m. ET)
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 21 — at Atlanta
Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 24 — at Golden State
Game 5 (if necessary): at Golden State
All Finals games stream on Peacock, with Games 1 and 4 also airing on NBC.
What Happens Next in the Best-of-Five Finals
Game 2 gives the Dream a chance to even the series before heading home, but they'll need to solve Golden State's defense and find secondary scoring beyond Reese. If Williams keeps producing at this level, the Valkyries could seize a commanding 2-0 lead. If Atlanta steals Game 2, the series shifts to the Dream's home floor for Game 3 with the momentum completely up for grabs.
The Valkyries' defensive identity and home-court advantage give them a slight edge, but Atlanta's star power has already carried it past the defending champions. Either way, one franchise is about to celebrate its first WNBA championship.
The Bottom Line: Key Points to Remember
Here's what you need to know about the 2026 WNBA Finals:
• The Golden State Valkyries are the first expansion team in WNBA history to reach the Finals, doing so in just their second season.
• The Atlanta Dream are in their first Finals since 2013 and are still seeking their first championship (0-3 all-time).
• Golden State leads the best-of-five series 1-0 after a 68-64 Game 1 win, led by Gabby Williams' 26 points.
• Angel Reese, the 2026 Kia Defensive Player of the Year, posted 14 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1.
• Both teams reached the Finals via semifinal sweeps: the Valkyries over the 2025-champion Aces and the Dream over the 2024-champion Liberty.
