Golden State Valkyries host Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, with both franchises seeking their first championship.
The best-of-seven series begins today at 3:30 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State earned home-court advantage after finishing 32-12 and securing the No. 2 seed. The Valkyries defeated Dallas in three games before sweeping defending champion Las Vegas in the semifinals.
Atlanta finished 30-14 and enters the Finals riding a 10-game winning streak, including five consecutive playoff victories. The Dream swept Washington in the first round before eliminating 2025 champion New York in three games.
The Dream completed that sweep with an 85-83 road victory last Friday, as Angel Reese scored 22 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21.
Golden State also advanced Friday, defeating Las Vegas 87-77 in overtime. Kayla Thornton scored 18 points, while Gabby Williams contributed 16.
The Valkyries swept all three regular-season meetings with Atlanta, winning 77-66, 78-75 and 88-83.
However, the teams have not met since July 4, and Atlanta subsequently strengthened its roster by adding veteran DeWanna Bonner.
The Dream do face uncertainty surrounding leading regular-season scorer Allisha Gray, who suffered a left-hand injury against New York. She underwent a minor procedure and remains day-to-day.
Dream vs. Valkyries betting picks and predictions
Golden State Valkyries -2.5 (-110)
Golden State enters Game 1 as a narrow favorite, but its defensive consistency and home-court advantage make the Valkyries an appealing selection.
The Valkyries finished the regular season with the WNBA's best defensive rating at 99.1, while Atlanta ranked third at 103.5.
Golden State also held Atlanta to an average of just 74.7 points during their three regular-season meetings. That is particularly significant considering the Dream averaged 91.3 points per game overall, ranking third in the league.
Williams and Veronica Burton provide strong perimeter defense, while Kiah Stokes protects the basket and Williams has also emerged as Golden State's leading playoff scorer, averaging 22.7 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Valkyries demonstrated their defensive ability against Las Vegas, holding the Aces to 60 points in their semifinal opener before completing the sweep.
Golden State also led the league in bench scoring during the regular season, averaging 35.9 points from its reserves - Janelle Salaun, Tiffany Hayes and Kaitlyn Chen provide several legitimate offensive options beyond the starting lineup.
Atlanta presents a difficult challenge, particularly with Reese controlling the boards and Jordin Canada providing additional scoring.
Canada averaged 22.3 points against New York in the semifinals, shooting 62.2% from the field. Bonner has also provided valuable experience and offensive production since joining Atlanta.
However, Gray's uncertain availability creates another obstacle against a Golden State defense that has already contained the Dream three times.
The Valkyries also have momentum after sweeping Las Vegas despite entering the series as underdogs.
Two of Golden State's three regular-season victories over Atlanta came by five points or fewer, suggesting another competitive contest.
Nevertheless, the Valkyries' defensive versatility, depth and home-court advantage make Golden State the stronger selection.
Under 154.5 points (-110)
This matchup features two of the WNBA's strongest defensive teams, making the Under an attractive selection.
Atlanta leads the playoffs with a 102.0 defensive rating, while Golden State ranks second at 104.1 and the two teams have six combined selections on the WNBA All-Defensive teams.
Reese, Howard and Canada represent Atlanta, while Williams, Burton and Stokes lead Golden State's defensive efforts.
Their three regular-season meetings produced combined totals of 143, 153 and 171 points, with two finishing below the 154.5-point line on offer here.
Golden State's ability to limit Atlanta's shooting was particularly important. The Dream averaged just 74.7 points against the Valkyries despite possessing one of the league's highest-scoring offenses.
The Dream have improved offensively during the playoffs, but Gray's injury could reduce their scoring options.
Golden State has also demonstrated its ability to win lower-scoring postseason games, defeating Las Vegas 71-60 in Game 1 of the semifinals.
With both teams capable of forcing turnovers and contesting shots, sustained offensive production could prove difficult, so take the Under.
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Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries odds
Atlanta Dream | +122 |
Golden State Valkyries | -144 |
Spread | GS Valkyries -2.5 |
Total Points | O/U 154.5 |
Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries player props
Player points
Rhyne Howard (ATL Dream) | O/U 15.5 |
Allisha Gray (ATL Dream) | O/U 15.5 |
Angel Reese (ATL Dream) | O/U 14.5 |
Gabby Williams (GS Valkyries) | O/U 18.5 |
Veronica Burton (GS Valkyries) | O/U 10.5 |
Tiffany Hayes (GS Valkyries) | O/U 8.5 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
