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WNBA Finals predictions 2026: Sporting News projects Dream vs. Valkyries championship series

The 2026 WNBA Finals are shaping up to be a historic showdown between two teams with contrasting trajectories but equal championship ambitions. The Atlanta Dream, led by breakout star Angel Reese, have finally reached the Finals after a 13-year drought, fueled by Reese’s dominant season—she earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while leading the league in rebounds and blocks per game.

The Dream’s offense, averaging 92.6 points per game in the postseason, has been unstoppable, with Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Jordin Canada anchoring a lineup that swept the Washington Mystics and dispatched the New York Liberty in three games. Meanwhile, the Golden State Valkyries, in just their second season, have defied expectations by fighting for the top seed and silencing doubters with a stifling defense and balanced roster.

Gabby Williams headlines a team where Sixth Player of the Year Janelle Saluan and Veronica Burton have been instrumental, as Golden State overcame the Dallas Wings in a tight series before sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Neither franchise has ever won a title, but the stage is set for a decisive clash: Atlanta’s veteran poise against the Valkyries’ relentless energy and defensive prowess.

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