WNBA Finals Open Saturday: Valkyries Face Dream With Both Franchises Chasing a First Title
SAN FRANCISCO — The 2026 WNBA Finals tip off on Saturday, October 17, with the Golden State Valkyries hosting the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco. Game 1 is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. The best-of-seven series — the second Finals played under that format — features two franchises each chasing a first championship.
The Valkyries joined the league only in 2025 and have reached the Finals in their second season. They went 32-12 as the No. 2 seed and swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, closing the series with an 87-77 overtime win in Game 3. Coach Natalie Nakase's team is built on defense, posting the league's best defensive rating in the regular season. Aces coach Becky Hammon said after the elimination: "Nakase had her club playing at a really high level all year. It's a number one defense in the league all year."
Atlanta finished 30-14 as the No. 4 seed and swept the New York Liberty in the semifinals, clinching with an 85-83 win in Game 3 to reach its first Finals since 2013. Angel Reese, acquired this season in a trade from the Chicago Sky, averaged 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds in the regular season and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Guard Allisha Gray, who hurt her left hand during the semifinals and underwent a minor procedure, is listed as day-to-day, and her availability for Game 1 remains uncertain.
Game 2 is on October 19 in San Francisco, before the series moves to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 on October 21 and 24. If necessary, Games 5 through 7 would be played on October 26, 29 and 31.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 旧金山大通中心外观（资料图）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，9yz 摄，CC BY 4.0 授权
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