The 2026 WNBA Finals are officially set, and if you aren’t paying attention, you’re missing out on some wild basketball, because the Atlanta Dream just punched their ticket for the first time since 2013, and the Golden State Valkyries, in only their second season, are crashing the party after knocking out the defending champs. The Dream locked it down first, completing a three-game semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty with a clutch 85-83 road victory, then Golden State followed up later in the evening, taking out the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces with an 87-77 overtime win to seal their own three-game sweep.
Atlanta’s Gut Check Without Allisha Gray
Talk about a gut check. The Atlanta Dream just pulled off an insane feat, sweeping a “talented, star-laden Liberty team” that absolutely crushed the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round. And they did it all without their four-time All-Star guard, Allisha Gray. Seriously, Gray is a 10-year veteran who averaged a team-high 19.0 points on 46.3 percent shooting, started all 44 games, and played 32.6 minutes per game. She even dropped 22 points in both Games 1 and 2 of their first-round sweep against the Washington Mystics.
But then disaster struck in Game 1 of the Liberty series: Gray suffered a finger injury on her left, shooting hand, played only 11 minutes, missed Game 2, and sat out the decisive Game 3. Everyone was doubting Atlanta, but they didn’t flinch. They beat New York 101-98 in overtime in Game 2, then closed them out on the road. The Dream essentially ran with a super-short six-woman rotation, throwing DeWanna Bonner into the lineup and running their starters until they couldn’t run anymore. And it worked. Angel Reese went off for 22 points and nine boards, Jordin Canada was dishing dimes with 13 assists to go with her 19 points, and Bonner cleaned the glass with a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double. Rhyne Howard added 21 points, and Isobel Borlase dropped 10 off the bench. They even let a 51-39 third-quarter lead fade, then fired off a quick 5-0 run in the fourth to secure a 75-71 edge and held on. Talk about grit.
Golden State’s Defensive Masterclass Sends the Champs Home
Meanwhile, out west, the Golden State Valkyries weren’t just winning, they were making a statement. In only their second season, they’re in the Finals after sending the defending champions packing. They were tough, tenacious, aggressive, and fierce, straight up out-hustling and out-working the Las Vegas Aces, especially in that Game 3 finale. The Valkyries were down 47-36 in the third quarter, which felt like the game was slipping away, but then they locked in and unleashed a monstrous 17-0 run that flipped everything on its head.
The two teams traded blows through the rest of regulation, and the Aces even had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Chelsea Gray’s mid-range jumper went in-and-out. Overtime. And that’s where Golden State truly shined, outscoring Las Vegas 17-7. They didn’t flinch. The Valkyries played perfect defense, made amazing passes and cuts, hit clutch open shots, and just played great team basketball. This squad has the league’s most efficient defense, and it showed. They played 10 players, all for at least seven minutes, with seven guys playing 17 or more. Eight players scored six or more, led by Kayla Thornton’s 18. Their active hands led to 12 steals, with Defensive Player of the Year runner-up Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini each snagging three. This is a team that knows how to win.
So, the Finals are set for Saturday. The big question for Atlanta is obviously Allisha Gray. She’s got over seven days to recover, and if she can get back on the court, that’s a huge boost for the Dream, especially going up against the Valkyries and their league-best defense. This is going to be a battle, and you know both these teams are ready to leave it all out there. Don’t miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply