Dream and Valkyries Reach 2026 WNBA Finals After Sweeps

The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries will compete for their first WNBA championship after sweeping their opponents in the 2026 playoff semifinals. Atlanta eliminated the defending champion New York Liberty, while Golden State defeated the Las Vegas Aces to secure a historic Finals matchup beginning Oct. 17.

The Valkyries, who entered the league as an expansion franchise in 2025, defeated New York 85-83 on Friday to complete their semifinal sweep. Golden State also beat Las Vegas 87-77 on Friday, Oct. 9, at Michelob Ultra Arena in Game 3. Atlanta will make its second Finals appearance after losing in its only previous appearance in 2013.

Angel Reese helped Atlanta secure its place in the championship series with 22 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal. According to the game statistics, she shot 7-of-18 from the field, made two of four 3-point attempts and converted all six free throws in 37 minutes.

Reese had expressed her championship ambitions before joining Atlanta in an April trade from the Chicago Sky, where she played for two seasons. On Oct. 11, 2025, she posted a message declaring her goal.

"Manifesting the finals." Reese wrote in her October 2025 post.

After reaching the Finals, Reese reflected on her move to Atlanta and the team's collective effort.

"I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew that I was getting," Reese said.

Reese credited the team's support and described the achievement as a personal milestone.

"This team has poured so much into me. We poured so much into each other. I posted and tweeted (on) 10/10/25 that I was manifesting the Finals and this is my moment.

I'm supposed to be here. I thank God for this moment. And I'm just so thankful."

Reese said.

Reese also set single-season records with 521 rebounds and 32 double-doubles. She averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks across five postseason games as Atlanta extended its winning streak to 10 games, including its regular-season results.

With the championship still ahead, Reese emphasized that Atlanta had more work to complete.

"The job is not done." Reese said.

Jordin Canada also played a decisive role in Atlanta's elimination of New York. She averaged 22.3 points on 62.3% shooting, 7.6 assists, three rebounds and two steals across the three-game series. In the clinching game, Canada recorded 19 points and 11 assists.

According to the article's historical comparison, Canada became the third player in WNBA history to record at least 11 assists without a turnover in a playoff series-clinching game, joining Cynthia Cooper and Diana Taurasi.

Canada described how Atlanta responded after entering the fourth quarter down by two points.

"When I went in the huddle, I said we're gonna have to earn it. This is a really good (Liberty) team. ...They're going to fight 'til the end. And so, we just got to want it more.

We got to bring that energy. We gotta play Atlanta Dream basketball," Canada said.

She credited the team's defensive execution and composure during the decisive moments.

"We did an exceptional job of getting stops when we needed (them) most, getting timely buckets when we needed it most, and just being poised and composed in that moment. And I know that also starts with me." Canada said.

Golden State's breakthrough also highlighted head coach Natalie Nakase's impact in the franchise's second season. After leading the Valkyries to the playoffs in their inaugural 2025 campaign, she guided them to the Finals in 2026 despite missing out on Coach of the Year honors, which went to Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.

Guard Veronica Burton pointed to the team's belief in one another as a driving force behind its postseason success.

"We're a team that just believes in one another. We believe in what we have here, and I think it's showing on the court time and time again, no matter what happens, what's thrown our way, we trust in each other," Burton said.

Burton also expressed what the Finals berth meant to the team.

"This is a dream come true." Burton said.

Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon, under whom Nakase served as an assistant from 2022 through 2024, acknowledged the Valkyries coach's work. Nakase was part of the Aces teams that won championships in 2022 and 2023 before leading Golden State.

"club playing at a really high level all year." Hammon said of Nakase's team.

The Finals will also mark the first time since 2021 that neither A'ja Wilson nor Breanna Stewart will appear in the championship series. Wilson's Las Vegas Aces won titles in 2022, 2023 and 2025, while Stewart's New York Liberty captured the 2024 championship.

New York's season ended with its semifinal sweep, bringing an early close to Chris DeMarco's first campaign as the Liberty's head coach. The series also drew scrutiny over a timeout decision during Game 2, which New York lost on Wednesday.

Stewart said officials had told her the Liberty did not have a reset timeout available during Angel Reese's free throws. However, officials stated in a postgame pool report that the referee had confirmed New York did have one.