Pictured: Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (author and license on file page).
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The 2026 WNBA champion will be a first-timer. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries both finished three-game semifinal sweeps on Friday night, setting up a best-of-seven Finals between two franchises that have never won a title, CBS Sports reported.
How they got here
No. 4 Atlanta beat the No. 8 New York Liberty 92-82, 101-98 in overtime, and 85-83. The Liberty had pulled off the upset of the first round by sweeping the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. The Dream, who swept the Washington Mystics in Round 1, are now 5-0 this postseason and are back in the Finals for the first time since 2013. Angel Reese, named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year, has anchored the frontcourt alongside Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.
No. 2 Golden State knocked out the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces 71-60, 83-81, and 87-77 in overtime. Only in their second season since joining the league as an expansion team in 2025, the Valkyries needed all three games to get past the Dallas Wings in the first round before shutting down the Aces’ offense. The Aces had eliminated Sophie Cunningham and the Indiana Fever in Round 1; see our earlier story on Cunningham’s comments during the playoffs.
Las Vegas goes home despite A’ja Wilson being named league MVP for a record fifth time.
WNBA Finals schedule (all times Eastern)
- Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 17, Valkyries vs. Dream, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
- Game 2: Monday, Oct. 19, Valkyries vs. Dream, 3:30 p.m. (USA)
- Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 22, Dream vs. Valkyries, 8 p.m. (USA)
- Game 4: Saturday, Oct. 24, Dream vs. Valkyries, 3:30 p.m. (NBC)
- Game 5*: Monday, Oct. 26, Valkyries vs. Dream, 8 p.m. (USA)
- Game 6*: Thursday, Oct. 29, Dream vs. Valkyries, 8 p.m. (USA)
- Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 31, Valkyries vs. Dream, 8 p.m. (USA)
*If necessary. Times and networks can change; check the WNBA’s official schedule.