The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are set to clash in the 2026 WNBA Finals, meaning this year will see a first-time champion be crowned.
The Dream, who joined the WNBA in 2008, went to the finals three times in their early years as a franchise (2010, 2011 and 2013) but were swept on all three occasions.
Meanwhile, Golden State has the opportunity to capture a title in just the franchise’s second year of existence. After making the playoffs in their inaugural season in 2025, the Valkyries are four wins away from history.
The two clubs faced off three times in the regular season, with Golden State sweeping Atlanta.
Here are three reasons why Atlanta and Golden State both have a shot at the trophy.
Why Atlanta will win
Atlanta finished fourth in the regular season at 30-14 and swept the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty to reach the finals.
No. 1: The Dream boast the newly minted Defensive Player of the Year in forward Angel Reese, and she will be the focal point for Atlanta on both ends of the floor.
In the close-out Game 3 against the Liberty to complete the sweep in the semifinals, Reese had 22 points with nine rebounds and three assists in the 85-83 victory. If the Dream pull off the series win, Reese will have a legitimate shot at taking home Finals MVP.
It cost the Dream just two first-round picks and a second-round draft selection swap to land Reese from the Chicago Sky via trade in April. In her first season with Atlanta, the 24-year-old averaged a career-high 16.4 points as well as 12.1 rebounds.
No. 2: Atlanta has several players capable of taking over the game offensively as they boast three of the top six scorers in the WNBA playoffs, including Reese.
Guard Jordin Canada has upped her game significantly in the postseason. The 31-year-old is averaging 19.2 points through five games, up from her 11.6 PPG in the regular season. In Game 3 against New York, Canada had 19 points with 11 assists. She is one of few players on the Dream roster with championship experience, winning two rings with the Seattle Storm (2018 and 2020).
Atlanta will also lean heavily on 2022 No. 1 pick Rhyne Howard, who is averaging 19.2 points in the playoffs. She is coming off a 21-point game against the Liberty in Game 3. Both Howard and Reese picked up MVP votes this season.
The Dream are the only team not to drop a game in the postseason so far and lead the playoffs in points per game (92.6), assists (19.8), steals (10.4) and the fewest turnovers per game (9.0).
No. 3: The health of guard Allisha Gray will be closely monitored, and her availability could swing this series. She underwent a minor procedure on her left hand and remains day-to-day ahead of Game 1.
Gray last played on Oct. 4 against New York, when she had seven points in 11 minutes before leaving the game with the injury. She led Atlanta in points per game (19.0) during the regular season.
Why Golden State will win
The Valkyries had the second-best record in the regular season at 32-12. In the playoffs, they beat the Dallas Wings in three games in the first round before sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
No. 1: While Atlanta has Reese, Golden State counters with forward Gabby Williams, who finished second in DPOY voting to the Dream star.
For the first time in her WNBA career, Williams was the focal point of the offence for Golden State and the decision to sign her to a big three-year deal in free agency has paid off.
Williams is averaging 22.7 points in the postseason, well ahead of second-place teammate Tiffany Hayes’ 13.3 points. Kayla Thornton is the only other player averaging double digits in points for the Valkyries (10.8).
Williams put on a clutch performance in the overtime of Game 3 against Las Vegas, scoring eight of her 16 points on the night in the extra frame to complete the sweep over the Aces.
No. 2: While guard Veronica Burton is already an important part of what Golden State does, the 26-year-old has room to elevate in the finals.
The 2025 Most Improved Player averaged 12.2 points this season and while that number has dipped in the playoffs to 9.5, Burton has the kind of game on both ends of the floor that can turn a series.
Her best performance of the postseason statistically so far was in the series-deciding win over Dallas, when she had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a tight 77-73 win.
No. 3: Head coach Natalie Nakase is a big reason why the second-year Valkyries find themselves in the WNBA Finals and that is an advantage heading into a series where both teams are firing on all cylinders.
Nakase was named Coach of the Year in 2025 after leading Golden State to the playoffs in their inaugural season and finished second in the voting this year behind Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve.
Unlike many teams in the WNBA, Golden State’s roster is not filled with star players and high draft picks. While Williams and Burton both got votes on this year’s MVP ballot and Janelle Salaun took home Sixth Player of the Year unanimously, Golden State finished 14th in the regular season in points per game at 82.2.
On the flip side, Nakase gets the most out of her roster and has molded them into a defensive juggernaut that’s a nightmare matchup for any opponent.