Valkyries and Dream Set for 2026 WNBA Finals

The 2026 WNBA Finals will match the Golden State Valkyries against the Atlanta Dream, with the series scheduled to begin October 17. Atlanta will host Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena, moving the contests from its regular-season home, Gateway Center Arena, to a venue with substantially more seating. The WNBA announced the arena change, according to reporting published October 14. Gateway Center Arena holds about 3,500 people, while State Farm Arena can accommodate more than 17,000. The larger venue could allow thousands more fans to attend the two Atlanta games, though an estimate of roughly 27,000 additional admissions is approximate. The Finals bring together two teams seeking their first WNBA championship. Golden State reached the series in its second season, after eliminating the Dallas Wings and sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Atlanta swept the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty to return to the Finals for the first time since 2013. An ESPN Basketball Power Index projection gives Golden State a 62.2% chance of winning the title and Atlanta a 37.8% chance. Those figures are model estimates, not results. The series is scheduled as a...