The Golden State Valkyries have etched their name into professional basketball history, becoming the quickest expansion franchise in WNBA history to secure a spot in the WNBA Finals. The second-year team punched their ticket to the championship round following a thrilling 87-77 overtime victory, completing a shocking series sweep of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Since entering the league, the Valkyries have consistently shattered expectations, becoming the only expansion squad in WNBA history to reach the postseason in back-to-back inaugural years and now advancing to the ultimate stage. In a high-stakes, back-and-forth semifinal matchup against Las Vegas, Golden State overcame an early deficit with a decisive 17-0 run in the third quarter before closing out the win in extra minutes powered by key defensive plays and stellar clutch scoring from star forward Gabby Williams.
With the semifinals in the books, the Valkyries are set to face off against the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven championship series. Atlanta secured its own spot in the Finals after sweeping the New York Liberty, setting up a fresh and unpredictable showdown between two hungry contenders.
Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals is scheduled to tip off on Saturday, October 17, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. As excitement builds across the Bay Area, Golden State looks to cap off its miraculous second-year campaign with the ultimate prize in women’s basketball.
