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| The official graphic/logo for the 2026 WNBA Finals — Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries. (The Sporting News) |
| ⏵ Tuesday, October 13, 2026 (Press Release):
🞷 Highlights:
- The 2026 WNBA Finals feature a first-time matchup as the Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries to determine the WNBA champion for the 2026 season.
- Both Atlanta and Golden State are seeking their first-ever WNBA championship.
- The best-of-seven series begins on Saturday, October 17, at 3:30 PM ET/12:30 PM PT on NBC and Peacock, with the series opening in San Francisco.
- NBC/Peacock (Games 1-4) and USA Network (all other games) combine for television coverage throughout the WNBA’s championship round.
- Former Elon University basketball player Zora Stephenson (play-by-play), former DePaul University basketball player Sarah Kustok (analyst) & Ashley ShahAhmadi (courtside reporter) to announce the action throughout the series.
Well, here we are, folks! The historic 30th WNBA season comes down to a best-of-seven championship round featuring two teams hungry for their first-ever WNBA championship. In this year’s WNBA Finals, we have Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream — in their first WNBA Finals since 2013 and their fourth overall — against Gabby Williams and the Golden State Valkyries, who are making their first-ever WNBA Finals appearance in just their second season!
This article will get us ready for the action set to unfold in the WNBA Finals, which begins this weekend (Saturday, October 17) on NBC and Peacock. For the second straight season, the WNBA Finals will be a best-of-seven series, meaning that the winning team must win four out of seven games to be declared champions. We will talk about some key storylines heading into the Finals, plus give you the series summary and daily television schedule throughout the WNBA Finals. Congratulations to Atlanta and Golden State for making it this far, and good luck, ladies!
Series Preview:
Obviously, this series features plenty of new faces as Atlanta and Golden State clash in the WNBA Finals for the very first time. Atlanta swept New York in their semifinal series, while Golden State dispatched Las Vegas, the reigning WNBA champion, in a semifinal sweep. Thus, we have No. 2 Golden State facing off with No. 4 Atlanta in the 2026 WNBA Finals.
The Dream are on a heater 🔥, winners of ten consecutive games entering this year’s WNBA Finals. Atlanta appears in the championship series for the fourth time in franchise history, having been swept in each of three previous appearances — 2010 vs. the Seattle Storm, 2011 & 2013 vs. the Minnesota Lynx. The Dream is led by the fantastic Angel Reese, alongside floor general co-star Jordin Canada.
As for Golden State, the Valkyries continue to set the standard for expansion franchises. The Valkyries reached the WNBA Finals in just their second season after joining the league as an expansion club in 2025. Golden State was swept by Minnesota in the first round. This year, Golden State made a special run to the championship round, following playoff victories over the Dallas Wings and the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. The Valkyries are led by WNBA All-Star Gabby Williams and three-time WNBA champion Kiah Stokes.
In my opinion, this should be an interesting series.
Broadcast Information:
The 2026 WNBA Finals will be split between NBC/Peacock (Games 1 & 4) and USA Network (Games 2-3 & 5-7, if necessary). For games televised by NBC and Peacock, Zora Stephenson, Sarah Kustok & Ashley ShahAhmadi serve as the broadcast team. USA Sports’ WNBA Finals broadcast team consists of Kate Scott (play-by-play), Tamika Catchings (analyst), Sarah Kustok (analyst), Amy Audibert (analyst) & Meghan McPeak (courtside reporter).
Additionally, NBC/Peacock will provide on-site studio coverage with Maria Taylor hosting alongside Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Sue Bird and Cheryl Miller. USA Network will also send a studio team out to San Francisco & Atlanta for live studio coverage, as host Elle Duncan and two-time WNBA champion Renee Montgomery handle pregame, halftime, and postgame shows from the game site, with Paris Lawson and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers Teresa Weatherspoon & Chamique Holdsclaw contributing from the studio.
More details about USA Sports’ WNBA Finals broadcast plans will be announced soon.
► 2026 WNBA Finals — (#4) Atlanta Dream vs. (#2) Golden State Valkyries — Series Summary (Subject to Change):
| ● (E4) Atlanta Dream vs. (#2) Golden State Valkyries — Golden State wins series, 4-3 | The series begins on Saturday, October 17:
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. Game 1 — Saturday, October 17 — Dream at Valkyries — NBC/Peacock, 3:30 PM ET - Zora Stephenson, Sarah Kustok, Ashley ShahAhmadi
. Game 2 — Monday, October 19 — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Kate Scott, Tamika Catchings, Sarah Kustok, Meghan McPeak
. Game 3 — Wednesday, October 21 — Valkyries at Dream — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Kate Scott, Tamika Catchings, Amy Audibert, Meghan McPeak
. Game 4 — Saturday, October 24 — Valkyries at Dream — NBC/Peacock, 1:00 PM ET - Zora Stephenson, Sarah Kustok, Ashley ShahAhmadi
. Game 5 — Monday, October 26 — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
. Game 6 — Thursday, October 29 — Valkyries at Dream — USA/Peacock, 12:30 PM ET - Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
. Game 7 — Saturday, October 31 (🎃 Halloween) — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET - Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
► 2026 WNBA Finals — (#4) Atlanta Dream vs. (#2) Golden State Valkyries — Daily Television Schedule (All Times ET & Subject to Change):
|| ● Saturday, October 17, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 1:
. Game 1 — Dream at Valkyries — NBC/Peacock, 3:30 PM ET — Zora Stephenson, Sarah Kustok, Ashley ShahAhmadi
|| ● Monday, October 19, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 2:
. Game 2 — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET — Kate Scott, Tamika Catchings, Sarah Kustok, Meghan McPeak
|| ● Wednesday, October 21, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 3:
. Game 3 — Valkyries at Dream — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET — Kate Scott, Tamika Catchings, Amy Audibert, Meghan McPeak
- ⏵ Note: Originally scheduled for Thursday, October 22. Moved up to Wednesday night due to arena conflicts at State Farm Arena.
|| ● Saturday, October 24, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 4:
. Game 4 — Valkyries at Dream — NBC/Peacock, 1:00 PM ET — Zora Stephenson, Sarah Kustok, Ashley ShahAhmadi
- ⏵ Note: Originally scheduled for 3:30 PM ET. Moved up to 1:00 PM ET due to the Hawks’ home game at State Farm Arena later in the evening.
|| ● Monday, October 26, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 5:
. Game 5 — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET — Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
|| ● Thursday, October 29, 2026 — WNBA Finals, Game 6:
. Game 6 — Valkyries at Dream — USA/Peacock, 12:30 PM ET — Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
- ⏵ Note: Originally scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Moved up to 12:30 PM ET due to the Hawks’ home game at State Farm Arena later in the evening.
|| ● Saturday, October 31, 2026 (🎃 Halloween) — WNBA Finals, Game 7 (if nec.):
. Game 7 — Dream at Valkyries — USA/CNBC/Peacock, 8:00 PM ET — Kate Scott, Sarah Kustok, Tamika Catchings, Meghan McPeak
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