Dream and Valkyries Book WNBA Finals Spots After Back-to-Back Semifinal Sweeps

The WNBA Finals are set, and neither team was on many preseason short lists. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries both closed out semifinal sweeps on Friday night, Oct. 9.

Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Valkyries finish off the champs in overtime

Golden State beat the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime at Michelob ULTRA Arena. It is the franchise's first Finals trip, in a team that played its first game in 2025.

The opponent was no pushover. Las Vegas had won three of the previous four WNBA titles, and A'ja Wilson, a five-time MVP, anchors the roster.

The Valkyries started badly in the road elimination game, going scoreless for the first three minutes. Chelsea Gray scored 15 first-half points, and Las Vegas took a nine-point lead into the break.

Then came the third quarter. Golden State ripped off a 17-0 run, with Tiffany Hayes setting the tone on defense and Kayla Thornton hitting a 3-pointer. Kaitlyn Chen gave the Valkyries their first lead of the night, and Kiah Stokes capped the run with a corner 3. Las Vegas went more than seven minutes without scoring and missed 12 straight shots.

The Aces fought back in the fourth quarter and the game was tied at 69. Thornton hit a transition layup to even it, Veronica Burton followed with a contested finish, and the Valkyries pulled away in the extra period.

Dream win a one-possession game in Brooklyn

Atlanta closed out the New York Liberty 85-83 at Barclays Center. It is the Dream's first Finals appearance since 2013, and the team is now 5-0 in this postseason after sweeping the Washington Mystics in the first round.

Atlanta finished 30-14 in the regular season.

Angel Reese led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds. She shot 7 of 18 from the field, 2 of 4 from three and 6 of 6 from the line over 37 minutes. Rhyne Howard added 21 points, Jordin Canada had 19 points and 11 assists, and DeWanna Bonner finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Isobel Borlase scored 10.

The Dream did it without Allisha Gray, their top scorer. She hurt a finger in Game 1 of the series, missed Game 2, warmed up before Friday's game and was ruled out about an hour before tip-off.

Reese's turnaround

Reese was traded to Atlanta in April after two seasons with the Chicago Sky. The Sky went 13-27 in 2024 and 10-34 last year, and she missed the playoffs both years.

This season she was named Defensive Player of the Year and set single-season records for rebounds (521) and double-doubles (32). Through five playoff games she is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks.

On Oct. 10, 2025, she posted "Manifesting the finals" on social media. Friday night she tied it together. "I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew that I was getting," Reese said. "I'm supposed to be here. I thank God for this moment."

Howard called her the team's anchor. "We brought in Angel, dog. We're going to follow her. She's going to follow us," Howard said.

Reese also said eight of the team's 12 players attend chapel. "It's a blessing to be around the girls in that locker room," she said.

Her offensive game has drawn years of ridicule, including jokes about missed layups and awkward footwork. A Guardian column argued Friday that her critics owe her an apology. The same column conceded the weaknesses were real: erratic finishing around the rim and a jumper that needed work. Its argument is that those flaws do not make her accomplishments fraudulent.

The box score gives both sides something to cite. She shot 7 of 18 in the clincher, but she also had five offensive rebounds and the defensive award, and Atlanta won both of its series without a loss.

What comes next

The Dream and Valkyries open the Finals on Oct. 17. Atlanta is chasing its first WNBA title, and Golden State is chasing one in its second season of existence.

Gray's finger is the open question. Neither team has announced whether she will be available for Game 1.