The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries open the 2026 WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center, with Game 1 of the best-of-seven series set to tip at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Atlanta enters the series as the only unbeaten team left in the postseason. The No. 4-seeded Dream are 5-0 in the playoffs after sweeping the Washington Mystics in the first round and the New York Liberty in the semifinals. It is Atlanta’s first trip to the WNBA Finals since 2013 and the fourth in franchise history. The Dream have never won a WNBA championship.
Golden State, the No. 2 seed, is 5-1 in the postseason in just its second season of existence. The Valkyries survived a three-game first-round series against Dallas before sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Golden State is the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to win a postseason series within its first two years.
The Valkyries hold home-court advantage and the regular-season edge. Golden State swept the season series 3-0, winning 77-66 and 78-75 at Chase Center in June before taking an 88-83 decision in Atlanta on July 4. In that most recent meeting, Veronica Burton scored 21 points and Gabby Williams added 19 for Golden State. Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 22 points, and Angel Reese finished with 17 points and 13 rebounds. That game featured 22 lead changes and 14 ties, and the Valkyries forced 15 Atlanta turnovers.
This series pairs two of the best defenses in the league. Golden State allowed a league-low 75.1 points per game during the regular season and ranked first in defensive rating at 99.1. Atlanta ranked third in defensive rating at 103.5 and led the WNBA in steals per game at 9.1 and in opponent turnovers at 16.0. That trend has carried into the playoffs, where the Dream are averaging 10.4 steals per game and have committed fewer turnovers than their opponent in all five wins.
Atlanta’s offense has been led by its backcourt. Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard are each averaging 19.2 points per game in the postseason, and Canada is averaging 8.8 assists while making all 18 of her free throw attempts. In the semifinal clincher against New York, Canada became just the third player in WNBA history with at least 11 assists and no turnovers in a series-clinching game, joining Cynthia Cooper and Diana Taurasi. Reese, the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in her first postseason. DeWanna Bonner has added 13.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
The Dream are monitoring the status of Gray, who is listed as questionable with a left hand injury. Gray averaged 17.0 points in the first three playoff games before missing the final two games of the semifinals. Brionna Jones remains out with a left leg injury.
Golden State is led by Williams, who is averaging 22.7 points per game in the playoffs, fourth in the league. Williams was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team and the AP All-WNBA Second Team. Kayla Thornton is averaging 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds this postseason, while Kiah Stokes ranks second in the league at 9.5 rebounds per game and is averaging 2.0 blocks. Burton, an All-Defensive Second Team selection, is averaging 9.5 points and 4.0 assists.
Depth has been a clear advantage for the Valkyries. Golden State leads the league in postseason bench scoring at 32.3 points per game, while Atlanta ranks fifth at 16.2. Tiffany Hayes is averaging 13.3 points off the bench, and Janelle Salaün was the unanimous selection for 2026 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year. Hayes also brings history to the matchup. She spent 10 seasons with the Dream and helped lead Atlanta to the 2013 WNBA Finals.
Golden State also holds the edge in championship experience. Stokes is a three-time WNBA champion, Thornton won a title with New York in 2024, and Cecilia Zandalasini won with Minnesota in 2017. Head coach Natalie Nakase won two championships as an assistant with Las Vegas. Iliana Rupert is not with the team this season due to pregnancy.
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko led the Dream to a franchise-record 30 wins this season, while Nakase guided the Valkyries to a 32-12 record.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 19, at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center.
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