With WNBA Finals a day away, Valkyries anxious to tip off in Ballhalla

Christian Babcock, The Mercury News on Oct 16, 2026

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OAKLAND, Calif. — On the eve of the biggest game of most of their lives, the Golden State Valkyries were calm, confident and a little bit restless.

The Valkyries have waited a week to start the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream after sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinal round. Now well-rested and raring to go, Golden State is anxious to get back on the court in pursuit of a championship in the franchise’s second season.

“We were very happy to sweep, because since the World Cup (in early September), it’s been go, go, go, go, go,” guard Gabby Williams said. “So it was nice to have some rest and recovery, and I think the fans will be happy to see two fresh, healthy teams.”

Atlanta clinched its semifinal series the same day as the Valkyries. But the Dream did have to make a cross-country trip for the start of the series.

Much has changed since the two teams last played on July 4, when Golden State completed a series sweep with a 88-83 victory. The Valkyries emerged as a championship contender and shot up the WNBA standings to secure the No. 2 seed, while Atlanta added future Hall of Fame forward DeWanna Bonner to bolster their roster late in the season.

Since Bonner joined the Dream, Atlanta is 10-0, including 5-0 in the postseason. Reminded of this, Bonner looked around for some wood to knock on.

“They already have built kind of a culture here, with the foundation they built with the core group,” Bonner said Friday at the Valkyries’ Sephora Performance Center. “And then I think I’m just the knowledge piece a little bit. So they just made it easy for me. I hope I’m making it easier for them, but it’s been a lot of fun.”

Atlanta has also been transformed by the offseason arrival of Angel Reese, the defensive and rebounding dynamo who came over via offseason trade from the Chicago Sky.

Reese’s gift for grabbing boards has had the Valkyries repeating “box out” over and over this week. She’s built a reputation as a winner after leading LSU to its first college national title and now has the Dream poised to challenge the Valkyries after setting the WNBA single-season record for rebounds.

“Anywhere I go, I’m looking to win,” Reese said. “I’ve won at every level I’ve been at, so I know any situation that I’m coming to, it’s a winner mentality. No matter what it looks like and how long it takes.”

Standing in the way is a raucous Ballhalla crowd that the Dream know will be formidable. Reese singled out the Chase Center crowd as “phenomenal” and playing an important role in growing women’s basketball.

Golden State hopes that home crowd will help the Valkyries remain unbeaten at home in the postseason.

“I’ve seen fans on overpasses on non-game days,” Williams said. “I see people in Valks gear all the time. I see lavender everywhere and violet. It’s cool. I mean, (team owner Joe Lacob) has definitely created an environment that’s not going to allow us to lose.”

The Valkyries have used this week to be as prepared as possible for the series. But both teams understand adjustments will have to be made in real time.

Center Kiah Stokes, one of four Valkyries with Finals experience, was crucial in slowing down five-time MVP A’ja Wilson in the semifinal series win over Las Vegas. She’s preparing for a different matchup against Reese, but there’s only so much she and the Valkyries can do after not facing this version of Atlanta for two and a half months.

“Everyone just has that anxious energy,” Stokes said. “Listen, practices are important. Don’t get me wrong. But at the end of the day, we’re trying to play, right? So it was great that we had this long week of preparation, so we can understand and really lock into the schemes. Once the ball is thrown up, it’s gonna be, who wants it more? Who’s gonna play harder? Who has the biggest heart? We’re just all ready to go.”

Coach Natalie Nakase, whose preparation borders on obsession and literally caused her to pass out in the Valkyries’ clinching first-round win over Dallas, even acknowledged the unknown her team faces.

“We control what we can control,” Nakase said. “So outside noise, all of the rumbles about being this big game, we don’t see it that way. We just see where our feet are, we’re gonna go after Atlanta and the game plan that we are putting together, and then it’s that simple.”

But with the best-of-seven series less than a day away from tipping off, everyone watching – players, fans and media – is about to get some answers.

The Valkyries and Dream tip off at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday in San Francisco. Game 1 will be televised on NBC and Peacock.