The 2026 WNBA Finals officially kicked off, and if Game 1 is any indication, we are in for a ride. The Golden State Valkyries took down the Atlanta Dream 68-64 on Saturday, snatching that crucial first win at home. This series is already looking like a slugfest, and honestly, after how these teams got here, should we expect anything less?
The Road to the Championship Was No Joke
Both the Valkyries and the Dream absolutely dominated their semifinal matchups. Golden State, the top team remaining, faced off against A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces and made quick work of them, sweeping the series 3-0. They started strong, taking Game 1 with a 71-60 win, then squeezed out a tight 83-81 victory in Game 2. They closed it out on the road, beating the Aces 87-77 in overtime for the sweep. That’s serious business.
On the other side, the Atlanta Dream also brought the broom to their series, sweeping the New York Liberty 3-0. The Liberty had already pulled off a massive upset, taking out the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0 in the first round. But the Dream were on a mission. They beat New York 92-82 in Game 1, then won a nail-biter 101-98 in overtime for Game 2, and finished them off 85-83 in Game 3. You gotta respect that kind of focused intensity from both of these Finals teams.
What’s Next for the WNBA Finals
So, with Game 1 in the books, the Valkyries have a 1-0 lead over the Dream. Game 2 is set for Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET, again with Golden State at home. The series then shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m. ET, and Game 4 on Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. ET.
If needed, Game 5 would be back in Golden State on Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. ET, Game 6 in Atlanta on Thursday, October 29, at 8 p.m. ET, and a decisive Game 7 back with the Valkyries on Saturday, October 31, at 8 p.m. ET. You can catch all the action across a ton of channels including ABC, NBC, ESPN, ESPN2, USA Network, CNBC, and NBCSN. Plus, streaming options like Fubo, DIRECTV, Prime Video, the ESPN app, and Peacock have you covered. Seriously, Fubo even offers a free trial if you want to jump in!
The WNBA Finals have started with a bang, and you know these teams are leaving everything on the court. Can the Dream bounce back on Monday and even the series, or will the Valkyries take a commanding 2-0 lead before heading to Atlanta? You don’t want to miss a second of this!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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