Golden State will face the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series that begins Saturday on NBC/Peacock.
The Golden State Valkyries didn't exist two years ago. Now they're playing for a championship, having turned an expansion slot into a Finals berth faster than just about anyone expected.
The Valkyries made the postseason in their first year, a notable achievement for any expansion team, and have now pushed through to face the Atlanta Dream for the title. Neither franchise has won a WNBA championship, so the league is guaranteed a first-time champion this year.
Golden State swept the season series between the two teams, though the sample size was small and the games bunched together over an 11-day stretch earlier in the year. Only one of those three meetings was decided by double digits, and both sides have reportedly improved since then, so the regular-season results may not mean much once the series actually starts.
Off the court, the Valkyries have been a phenomenon since entering the league, leading the WNBA in attendance, arena atmosphere and revenue in their debut season. Owner Joe Lacob had tried to bring a women's pro team to the Bay Area long before the Valkyries existed, with the franchise's roots tracing back to the 1990s.
The series begins Saturday on NBC/Peacock.