WNBA Finals 2026 Guide: How to Follow Dream vs. Valkyries, Game by Game
Published:
In brief
The Golden State Valkyries lead the Atlanta Dream 1-0 in the 2026 WNBA Finals after winning Game 1, 68-64, at Chase Center on October 17. Here is how each team reached the best-of-seven series, who to watch, and the full remaining schedule.
The 2026 WNBA Finals pit the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries against the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series. Golden State won Game 1 at Chase Center 68-64 on October 17, taking a 1-0 lead, according to ESPN's recap of the game and the official WNBA Finals preview. Neither franchise has ever won a championship.
How each team got here
Golden State finished the regular season 32-12, second in the league, and is making the Finals in its second year of existence after expanding into the WNBA, per WNBA.com. In the playoffs, the Valkyries beat the Dallas Wings in a three-game first-round series before sweeping defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, despite an all-time 1-6 regular-season record against Las Vegas, ESPN reported.
Atlanta finished 30-14, fourth in the standings. The Dream swept the Washington Mystics in the first round, then swept the 2025 champion New York Liberty in the semifinals — a reversal of their 2024 playoff loss to New York, according to WNBA.com and ESPN. Atlanta's sweep of the Liberty extended a 10-game winning streak that Golden State snapped in Game 1.
Key players to watch
Golden State's attack centers on Gabby Williams, who led all scorers in the playoffs entering the Finals and scored a game-high 26 points in Game 1, including four free throws in the final 1:18, per ESPN. Kiah Stokes anchors Golden State's rebounding and interior defense, while Janelle Salaun, the league's Sixth Player of the Year, Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes add scoring depth, according to the WNBA.com preview.
Atlanta relies on three All-Stars: Angel Reese, the Defensive Player of the Year, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1; Rhyne Howard; and Allisha Gray, Atlanta's leading scorer. Jordin Canada and DeWanna Bonner round out the rotation. Gray was day-to-day ahead of the series after an injury to her left hand, but played in Game 1, finishing with 19 points — though she did not score in the fourth quarter as the Dream shot 2-for-20 in that period, ESPN reported.
Full Finals schedule
2026 WNBA Finals schedule (best-of-seven)
Game
Date
Location
Status
Game 1
Oct 17
Chase Center, San Francisco
Golden State won 68-64
Game 2
Oct 19
Chase Center, San Francisco
Upcoming
Game 3
Oct 21
State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Upcoming
Game 4
Oct 24
State Farm Arena, Atlanta
Upcoming
Game 5*
Oct 26
Chase Center, San Francisco
If necessary
Game 6*
Oct 29
TBD, Atlanta
If necessary
Game 7*
Oct 31
Chase Center, San Francisco
If necessary
Golden State holds home-court advantage and would host Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, per WNBA.com. Games air on NBC or USA Network depending on the date.
How to follow the rest of the series
Check the updated schedule above before each game, since Finals start times rotate between daytime and evening slots on NBC and USA Network.
Track Allisha Gray's hand injury report; she played significant minutes and scored 19 points in Game 1, but her scoring dipped in the fourth quarter, per ESPN.
Watch the rebounding battle — Golden State won the boards 41-35 in Game 1, a category WNBA.com flagged as a series storyline given both teams' defensive identities.
Follow the venue switch: Games 3 and 4 move from Chase Center to State Farm Arena in Atlanta, which could shift crowd and travel dynamics.
If the series reaches a Game 5, 6 or 7, note those are only played 'if necessary' and dates can shift based on how the first four games unfold.
What analysts expected before Game 1
Before the series began, three of four ESPN analysts picked Golden State to win in seven games, while one picked Atlanta in seven; ESPN's win-probability model (BPI) gave the Valkyries a 62.4% chance to win the championship. Golden State's Game 1 win fits that favored-but-not-dominant framing, though a seven-game series remains possible given Atlanta's playoff defense, which ESPN noted had outperformed Golden State's in the postseason to that point.
right where we wanted them
— Gabby Williams, via ESPN
Questions
Who is leading the 2026 WNBA Finals?
The Golden State Valkyries lead the Atlanta Dream 1-0 after winning Game 1, 68-64, at Chase Center on October 17, per ESPN.
Has either team won a WNBA title before?
No. Both the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream are seeking their first championship; Atlanta had previously reached but lost the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013, according to ESPN and Wikipedia.
Is Allisha Gray playing in the Finals?
Yes. Gray was listed as day-to-day with a left-hand injury before the series but played in Game 1, scoring 19 points, per ESPN.
When is Game 2 of the WNBA Finals?
Game 2 is scheduled for October 19 at Chase Center in San Francisco, airing on USA Network, according to WNBA.com.
Where are Games 3 and 4 played?
Games 3 and 4 move to State Farm Arena in Atlanta on October 21 and October 24, per the official WNBA Finals schedule.
This piece was prepared with artificial intelligence and passed an automated source check before publication. If you see an error, ask for a correction. Request a correction or reply · How we make this
Portland Trail Blazers waived Polish forward Jeremy Sochan on October 17, 2026, cutting him from their regular-season roster three days before the NBA season opens. The 23-year-old had been on a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract and will become an unrestricted free agent if no team claims him on waivers by Monday.
Roma face Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, October 17, 2026 (20:45 kick-off) in Serie A matchday 7. Third-placed Roma, coached by Gian Piero Gasperini, host 17th-placed Genoa, led by former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi, three days after Roma's 4-3 Champions League defeat to José Mourinho's Real Madrid.
Rain delayed the series-deciding 5th T20 international between India and West Indies at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on October 17, 2026, forcing officials to cut the match to nine overs a side. West Indies captain Shai Hope won the toss and chose to field first, with the five-match series tied 2-2 heading into the decider. The final result had not been confirmed by independent outlets at the time of this report.
India and West Indies are tied 2-2 heading into the fifth and deciding Twenty20 international of their series, scheduled for October 17 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Heavy rain delayed the toss on match day, raising the possibility of a reduced-overs contest or a washout that would leave the trophy shared.
