A new WNBA champion will be crowned before the month is over.
The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will match up for the best-of-seven finals, starting on Oct. 17. The Valkyries, in just their second season after they kick-started the WNBA’s wave of expansion, are a surprise to many but have all the makings of a title contender. The Dream, who had previously been the youngest sibling in the league after its 2008 founding, hasn’t been to the championship round since 2013 and has never won there.
Both teams swept their semifinals opponents: the Valkyries taking down the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, and the Dream sweeping the powerful New York Liberty.
The title contenders get a break, some time to recover before their championship bout. But not our experts at The Athletic.
Our playoff reporters are thinking about how this series will play out — and they think they’ve got the answers.
Who do you have? Let us know in the comments.
Annie Costabile: Dream in seven
The 2026 WNBA Finals comes down to, just as everyone predicted, the Valkyries and the Dream. Two defensive juggernauts dueling it out for a piece of history.
After watching a three-game sweep of the Liberty, courtesy of the Dream, my pick for the finals winner is Atlanta. The Dream put on a masterclass against the Liberty and did so without leading scorer Allisha Gray, who sustained a left hand injury in Game 1 of the semifinals. The offensive production from Jordin Canada and DeWanna Bonner showed a level of depth that will be hard to contend with for a team with the seventh-best offense in the league.
Brian Hamilton: Valkyries in six
The regular-season sweep by Golden State means nothing. We can get that out of the way. But I do think the distance from it — these teams last played on July 4 — can be a factor. The Valkyries’ energy and effort is just different, and it has two home games as a launching pad. Any idea that they’re not totally ready for the postseason pressure cooker went out the door in Las Vegas on Friday night.
Atlanta will play better defense than Las Vegas did, but the Dream don’t have better individual scorers. Over time, Golden State’s defense and depth of talent wins out.
Chantel Jennings: Dream in seven
I’ve picked against the Dream in two consecutive rounds only to have Atlanta sweep the Mystics and Liberty. I am not going to make the same mistake again. Yes, Golden State went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season, but the addition of DeWanna Bonner has been key and made Atlanta’s defense that much scarier. Plus, the Dream’s regular-season leading scorer Gray, who played only two quarters in this series, will be extremely rested when she’s healthy and able to return.
Marcus Thompson II: Valkyries in seven
Don’t be fooled by the Valkyries’ undefeated record against Atlanta this season. Both teams have found a different stride since. Both teams are brimming with confidence after eliminating legends. Canada is playing exceptional hoop, and Angel Reese is a true gamer. But the depth and versatility of the Valkyries, and their home court advantage, gives them a slight edge. Plus, Golden State has the best player in the series in Gabby Williams. If Gray misses too much time, that works in the Valkyries’ favor.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Atlanta Dream, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA
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