The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will face off in the WNBA Finals
Photo Courtesy of John Mac- Wikimedia Commons
As the semifinals of the 2026 Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Playoffs come to an end, the historic finals matchup has been set. Starting Saturday, Oct. 17, the Golden State Valkyries will face off against the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven matchup.
This matchup comes as a pleasant surprise to many fans because the last few WNBA Finals have featured the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. The Atlanta Dream have been to the finals four other times, but were swept by the opposing team each time. However, the current roster looks much different than it has during past finals games, and this team is looking like a true contender.
The Valkyries are only in their second year as a WNBA team; making it to the finals in only their second year is unheard of. The Valkyries also stand out in many other ways, including their defense. During the regular season, they had the number one-ranked defense and used it to power their offense throughout games—which has its drawbacks. The Valkyries are also a team without a clear superstar. The Dallas Wings have Paige Bueckers, the Indiana Fever have Caitlin Clark, and the Las Vegas Aces have A’ja Wilson; the Valkyries do not have a clear number one option.
This has presented some issues for the team, but it is also what makes them so good. How can you fully stop a team when you do not know who will be taking the most shots? The Valkyries play like it could be anyone’s night to score, and that helps them build a very strong team dynamic. The team is also built on multiple former UConn players, French National Team players, and led by a brilliant coach, Natalie Nakase; this is a team the Dream will have to plan for in unprecedented ways.
The Dream also have a strong defensive presence and an even better offensive one. With superstars like Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and the new addition of DeWanna Bonner, this team is coming for the title. However, the Dream has had some issues with consistency when it comes to shooting. If Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese can start off shooting hot, the Dream will have a great chance at beating the Valkyries.
The Dream will need to focus on limiting perimeter opportunities for the Valkyries—who can get hot from three at any moment. Atlanta will also need to prioritize ball handling and limit their turnovers—especially live ball turnovers—as much as possible.
This matchup will be defense-heavy, and it will be interesting to see what the score ends up being for each game. With so much focus on the defensive end, fans could be seeing low-scoring games throughout the finals. Another thing to watch for will be how each team adjusts their plays as the games progress; with so many scoring options on each team, it will be interesting to see what plays are run for each player in such a highly-contested matchup.
Fans seem equally divided on which team will end up winning it all, and this could be one of the most thrilling finals matchups that the WNBA has ever had. Both the Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries have had such a great season and are deserving of the title.