The Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream to open the WNBA Finals on Saturday at 8.30pm. Golden State went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season, including an 88-83 win on July 4.
The Valkyries will begin their quest for a WNBA championship in just their second year of existence. This year’s Finals, which begins Saturday in San Francisco, pits two franchises seeking their first WNBA titles against each other.
Golden State became the first WNBA expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural season in 2025. The club followed that by reaching the Finals in only its second season, another expansion franchise record.
Valkyries owner Joe Lacob will walk into the Chase Center and feel the energy of the “Ballhalla” home crowd, which is expected to be a violet-crazed sellout. Lacob promised a championship within the first five years, and now, in the second year, the Valkyries are playing for one.
“What is truly remarkable is how great our fans are. Our players love it, we love it,” Lacob said.
“It’s great, it’s a cohesion, it’s everybody coming together all at the same time and rooting for something that is new and fresh and it’s timely. And people see it and feel it. What’s going on in that arena is fantastic; it’s remarkable, it’s incredibly fun.
“I love walking in there, my wife, my family, we all love walking in there to the tremendous feeling of camaraderie and togetherness.
“We all, as a team of people, fans, players, organisation – together we’re making history, and we all feel it.”
We felt that we had something worth fighting for
Under Lacob’s leadership, Golden State has built a roster of understated stars under head coach Natalie Nakase, who was hired as the first head coach in franchise history in October 2024.
Veronica Burton was cut by Dallas two years ago. Her backup point guard, Kaitlyn Chen, was briefly let go by the Valkyries last season before she returned. Kayla Thornton, a 33-year-old undrafted forward out of the University of Texas at El Paso, became an All-Star in 2025.
Gabby Williams had something to prove in the WNBA after sensing that others didn’t believe in her ability.
“It feels special because this is a special group,” Williams said. “All we need is each other.
“We just need to believe in each other. We know we weren’t a team that was talked about, but just the culture and going to work every day.
“We felt that we had something worth fighting for. That’s how we’re going into the Finals, with that same mentality – staying together and staying unselfish.”
The Valkyries finished the 2026 regular season 32-12 before advancing through the playoffs, including a semifinal victory over defending champion Las Vegas Aces.
Atlanta has lost three previous Finals appearances, in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and is hoping to put that history behind it and claim its first championship in franchise history.