WNBA Finals Game 1: Valkyries vs Dream Start Time
The WNBA Finals Game 1 arrives Saturday afternoon with a first-time champion guaranteed, as the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries welcome the fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream to Chase Center in San Francisco for the opener of the 2026 championship series.
The Valkyries are playing for a title in just their second season of existence, while the Dream are making their fourth Finals appearance and their first since 2013. The opener tips at 3:30 p.m. ET (12:30 p.m. PT) and airs on NBC, with streaming available on Peacock.
Angel Reese and Gabby Williams Lead the Way
Both clubs reached the Finals behind high-profile offseason additions who earned All-Star honors. Atlanta landed forward Angel Reese in a trade, while Golden State signed veteran Gabby Williams in free agency. Reese was honored as the 2026 WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, with Williams finishing as the runner-up in the voting.
Williams is carrying the Valkyries through the postseason, averaging 22.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals over six playoff games. Reese is putting up 18 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in what is her first playoff run, crediting her teammates for making the transition easy.
Golden State Swept the Regular-Season Series
The Valkyries took all three regular-season meetings with the Dream, though the teams have not faced each other since July 4 — and both sides say they have evolved significantly since then.
One storyline to watch is the health of Atlanta guard Allisha Gray, who had a minor procedure on her left hand after injuring it in Game 1 of the semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty. Gray missed the next two playoff games but described her status as day-to-day heading into the Finals.
The series schedule continues with Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, Game 3 on Wednesday, Oct. 21, Game 4 on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, and Games 5 through 7 — if needed — on Oct. 26, Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.
Source: USA Today