Golden State Valkyries Sweep Aces to Reach WNBA Finals

The Golden State Valkyries secured their first trip to the WNBA Finals on Friday, October 9, 2026, defeating the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The victory completed a semifinal sweep and set up a championship series against the Atlanta Dream, scheduled to begin October 17.

According to the schedule published by Yahoo Sports, the Valkyries reached the finals in only their second season of existence. Their victory eliminated the reigning champions after a closely contested matchup that remained competitive before Golden State pulled away in overtime.

The Atlanta Dream also advanced on Friday, defeating the New York Liberty to secure their first appearance in the WNBA Finals since 2013. Both finalists completed semifinal sweeps, giving the teams additional time to rest before the championship series.

The best-of-seven finals are scheduled to open Saturday, October 17, with Golden State hosting the first two games before the series moves to Atlanta. If necessary, the remaining games will alternate between the teams' home venues.

Game 1 is scheduled for October 17 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time in Golden State, followed by Game 2 on October 19 at 8 p.m. Game 3 will take place in Atlanta on October 22 at 8 p.m., while Game 4 is scheduled for October 24 at 3:30 p.m.

If the series extends beyond four games, Game 5 will be played in Golden State on October 26 at 8 p.m. Game 6 is scheduled for Atlanta on October 29 at 8 p.m., and a potential Game 7 would return to Golden State on October 31 at 8 p.m. All listed times are Eastern Time.

The schedule includes three potential championship games at Chase Center, Golden State's home venue, as the second-year franchise prepares for its first appearance in the league's championship series. The series will determine whether the Valkyries or the Dream claim the 2026 WNBA title.