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By the end of the 2026 WNBA<\/a> Finals, one of two thing will be true:<\/p>\n Either the Golden State Valkyries<\/a> (32-12) will be crowned league champs in only the organization’s second season, or the Atlanta Dream<\/a> (30-14) \u2014 the WNBA’s last expansion team before Golden State joined as franchise No. 13 \u2014 will win its first WNBA title.<\/p>\n Ahead of one of the more unlikely WNBA Finals in recent memory, here’s our first look at some of the key factors that could decide who comes out on top.<\/p>\n May the best backcourt win.<\/p>\n The Dream and Valkyries are led by outstanding guard play, and whichever group best flexes its might will give their team the inside track to victory.<\/p>\n Through the first two rounds of the playoffs, Valkyries guard Gabby Williams ranks fifth in the league in points per game (22.7) on 44.9\/40.5\/92 percent shooting splits. The 2026 Defensive Player of the Year runner-up has been just as impactful on that end of the court. During the stunning semifinals sweep of the two-time defending champion Las Vegas Aces<\/a>, she and teammates Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes helped limit Jackie Young, who ranked second on Las Vegas in scoring during the regular, to 14.3 points per game on 31.6 percent shooting. Chelsea Gray finished the series with only two more assists (14) than turnovers (12).\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Her Hoop Stats data<\/a>, the Valkyries have held their postseason opponents to a league-low 16 assists per game while forcing the second-highest number of steals (5.5 per game). Offensively, Golden State has the second-lowest turnover rate (11.5 percent) of the playoffs, behind only the Dream (9.7 percent).<\/p>\n Guard Jordin Canada is on an unbelievable run. In the three-game sweep of the New York Liberty<\/a>, she averaged 22.3 points, 7.7 assists and two steals per game on ridiculous .622\/.615\/1.000 shooting splits, picking up more than enough slack after four-time All-Star Allisha Gray missed the final two games with a hand injury. With Game 1 of the Finals not until next Saturday (Oct. 17), she has plenty of time to recuperate and be on the court for the opener.<\/p>\n Gray and Canada, along with Rhyne Howard, give the Dream three guards averaging at least two steals per game these playoffs. Through Atlanta’s 5-0 postseason start, it’s forced a WNBA-best 18.2 turnovers per game. That trend must continue for the Dream to generate easy fast-break opportunities against the league’s best half-court defense.<\/p>\n Dream forward Angel Reese, 24, followed her recent Defensive Player of the Year accolade with a phenomenal semifinals. Over her last three games, she averaged 20.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and two steals per game on efficient 47.7\/57.1\/88.9 percent shooting splits.<\/p>\n Valkyries center Kiah Stokes, 33, meanwhile, is here simply for defense. She locked down the paint against the Aces, ending the series averaging 9.5 rebounds and two blocks per game. No team took more shots in the restricted area than Atlanta during the regular season, per Her Hoop Stats<\/a>, but it may think twice with Stokes stalking the rim.<\/p>\n Golden State’s depth edge over Las Vegas was a major factor in the sweep. Over the three games, its bench outscored Las Vegas’, 88-34. The Valkyries have nine players who’ve appeared in all six playoff games and averaged at least 10 minutes per game.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gray’s potential return will help the Dream combat that advantage. Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner, 39, has turned back the clock and is averaging 13.2 points per game in the playoffs, while guard Isobel Borlase has provided valuable minutes and is shooting 55 percent through the first two rounds. Both need a big series to cut into Golden State’s numbers advantage along the bench.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nElite guard production<\/h2>\n
Youth vs. experience in the front court<\/h2>\n
Bench battle<\/h2>\n