The Atlanta Dream aren’t messing around anymore! They snagged their first WNBA Finals victory in franchise history on Monday night, taking Game 2 against the Golden State Valkyries and knotting this incredible series up at 1-1. What a moment for that squad, proving they belong on this huge stage!
Angel Reese Went Off, and the Dream Made History
That Monday night Game 2 was straight fire, with the Dream absolutely showing up to even things out. Angel Reese dropped a monster 30 points, a game high that night, leading Atlanta to a dominant 79-65 win over the Valkyries. Seriously, 30 points! That’s how you come back after dropping Game 1, and it’s how you get your franchise’s first ever WNBA Finals victory. Talk about laying down a marker in a best-of-seven series!
Game 1 saw the Valkyries take the lead, winning 68-64 on Saturday, October 17. But the Dream clearly took that personally, roaring back in Game 2. Now it’s all tied up, 1-1, and both teams are hungry for that first championship trophy in their franchise history. It’s a battle of who wants it more!
Sweeps All Around, But Only One Can Be Champion
Both of these teams got to the Finals by absolutely rolling through their semifinal matchups. The Dream knocked out the New York Liberty with a clean sweep, going 2-0. They dominated those games, 92-82 and 101-80, proving they were for real. Before that, they bounced the Washington Mystics in the first round, also with a perfect 2-0 record after 92-77 and 93-75 wins. Atlanta was actually a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs before this Finals series even started, a seriously impressive run!
The Golden State Valkyries weren’t slouching either. They pulled off their own semifinal sweep, taking down the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces, who were no easy opponent! Golden State beat them 71-60 and 102-85. Their first round against the Dallas Wings was a bit tougher, going all three games, with scores of 104-80, 100-108 in overtime, and then a tight 77-73 clincher. They showed they can win when the pressure is on, and they can bounce back from a loss. This whole series feels like it’s going to be a heavyweight fight, especially since it’s a best-of-seven, only the second time that’s happened in WNBA history!
This Season Is Different, And Game 3 Is Up Next
Honestly, this 2026 WNBA season has been unbelievable, on and off the court. It kicked off after a major labor battle that actually resulted in a historic raise for the players, bumping the salary cap from $1.5 million in 2025 all the way up to $7 million in 2026. That’s a huge win, and the players have absolutely delivered in return!
Regular-season records were shattered left and right. We saw Clark become the first WNBA player ever to put up a 40-point, 10-assist game. Angel Reese, who just tore it up in Game 2, also broke the single-game rebounding record with a monstrous 26 boards. And Kelsey Mitchell? She passed A’ja Wilson’s single-season points record. This league is absolutely buzzing, and these Finals are just the cherry on top!
Now, it all comes down to Game 3. The series heads to Atlanta, with the Dream hosting the Valkyries on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET. This is where one team is going to seize momentum and take a critical 2-1 lead. You know both squads are leaving everything out on the court for this one. Get ready!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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