{"id":798,"section":"sports","section_label":"Sports","url":"https://www.brokenews.co/sports/798","headline":"WNBA Finals open in San Francisco as Valkyries host Dream","dek":"Golden State and Atlanta, both chasing a first championship, tipped off Game 1 at Chase Center with the basketball world watching.","body":"The Golden State Valkyries opened their first WNBA Finals appearance at home against the Atlanta Dream, with Game 1 played at Chase Center on Saturday. Golden State arrived off a sweep of the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, while Atlanta is also chasing its first-ever title.\n\nThe Valkyries' depth has been a theme of their playoff run, with Gabby Williams drawing attention for her production and her effect on teammates. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham praised Williams on the \"No Hesitation Show,\" specifically calling out the confidence Williams gives her teammates as \"huge.\"\n\nGolden State's crosstown connection was on display before tip-off, as Warriors star Steph Curry wore a jersey supporting Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, reflecting the local buzz around the series.\n\nThe matchup also carries symbolic weight for the league itself. Atlanta spent sixteen years as the WNBA's most recent expansion team before Golden State took over that distinction last season, and the two franchises arrived at this Finals from very different paths, Atlanta's a decade-long rebuild and Golden State's a rapid rise in its debut campaign.","published_at":"2026-10-17T23:48:29.232361+00:00","source_count":4,"written_from":[{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Valkyries’ Gabby Williams draws serious praise from Sophie Cunningham","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-gabby-williams-draws-serious-210906751.html"},{"outlet":"New York Post","publisher":"New York Post","title":"Steph Curry reps Valkyries star Veronica Burton’s jersey as Golden State begins WNBA Finals","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/10/17/sports/steph-curry-valkyries-veronica-burton-jersey-wnba-finals-atlanta-dream/"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"Dream vs. Valkyries live updates: WNBA Finals Game 1 start time, how to watch and latest","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/valkyries-vs-dream-wnba-finals-game-1-score-live-updates/vG8Rm3iKdqBQ/"},{"outlet":"Front Office Sports","publisher":"Front Office Sports","title":"How the Valkyries and Dream Reflect the WNBA’s Evolution","url":"https://frontofficesports.com/article/how-the-valkyries-and-dream-reflect-the-wnbas-evolution/"}],"more_coverage":[{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"“Worst Team in the Playoffs”: WNBA Broadcaster Flags Glaring Indiana Fever Weakness After All-Defensive Team Reveal","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/worst-team-playoffs-wnba-broadcaster-013711031.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Dream’s Allisha Gray gets 100% real on WNBA Finals Game 1 return chances","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dream-allisha-gray-gets-100-045503712.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Golden State Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream in WNBA Finals: Time, TV, how to watch","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-vs-atlanta-100226082.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA Finals guide: Golden State Valkyries slight favorite over Atlanta Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-guide-golden-state-100450668.html"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"WNBA Finals schedule: TV, tipoff times for Golden State Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7696599/2026/10/17/wnba-finals-schedule-valkyries-dream-how-to-watch/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"A finals nobody saw coming, plus two top-10 showdowns","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/finals-nobody-saw-coming-plus-101605120.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA Finals schedule: TV, tipoff times for Golden State Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-schedule-tv-tipoff-101605778.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Players on 2026 WNBA Finals winner will each receive $60k bonus","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/players-2026-wnba-finals-winner-110104383.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Angel Reese, Gabby Williams headline remarkable WNBA Finals defensive showdown","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/angel-reese-gabby-williams-headline-113609186.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"How and when to watch WNBA Finals. Share your thoughts on Game 1 of Valkyries-Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/watch-wnba-finals-share-thoughts-120000010.html"},{"outlet":"New York Post","publisher":"New York Post","title":"Dream vs. Valkyries prediction: Atlanta’s red-hot streak continues in Game 1 of WNBA Finals","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/10/17/betting/dream-vs-valkyries-prediction-odds-for-game-1-best-betting-pick-for-wnba-finals/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"A first-time WNBA champion awaits as Valkyries, Dream open the Finals","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/first-time-wnba-champion-awaits-153856640.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"How to watch the Valkyries vs Dream Game 1 without cable today","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/watch-valkyries-vs-dream-game-153000501.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA fans can’t believe controversial referee has been picked for Dream vs. Valkyries finals clash","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-fans-t-believe-controversial-153000953.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Dream vs. Valkyries live score, updates, highlights from WNBA Finals Game 1 of 2026 playoffs","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dream-vs-valkyries-live-score-163001037.html"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"Dream vs. Valkyries live updates: WNBA Finals Game 1 start time, how to watch and latest","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/dream-vs-valkyries-live-updates-wnba-finals-game-1-start-time-how-to-watch-and-latest/vG8Rm3iKdqBQ/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"How to watch Dream vs Valkyries for free: Game 1, WNBA Finals, live stream, TV channel","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/watch-dream-vs-valkyries-free-180000090.html"},{"outlet":"New York Post","publisher":"New York Post","title":"Valkyries’ Gabby Williams lashes out at WNBA media treatment of her after team’s success","url":"https://nypost.com/2026/10/17/sports/valkyries-gabby-williams-lashes-out-at-wnba-media-treatment-of-her-after-teams-success/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"‘She’s Gonna Have To Show Up’ — WNBA Legend Sheryl Swoopes Urges Valkyries Forward To Shoot More in Finals Clash vs. Angel Reese, Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/she-gonna-show-wnba-legend-190635891.html"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"Golden State Valkyries hold on for WNBA Finals Game 1 victory over Atlanta Dream","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7699373/2026/10/17/golden-state-valkyries-hold-on-for-wnba-finals-game-1-victory-over-atlanta-dream/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Golden State Valkyries hold on for WNBA Finals Game 1 victory over Atlanta Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-hold-wnba-220105921.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA Finals: Atlanta Dream drop Game 1 to Golden State Valkyries","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-atlanta-dream-drop-215928304.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Valkyries have one big concern after WNBA Finals Game 1 win over Dream","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-one-big-concern-wnba-221253292.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams hurt in WNBA Finals Game 1","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/golden-state-valkyries-star-gabby-224311165.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Williams lifts Valkyries past Dream in WNBA Finals opener","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/williams-lifts-valkyries-past-dream-224606109.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Valkyries prove tough enough, top Dream in Game 1 of WNBA Finals","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-prove-tough-enough-top-230637136.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Unheralded Valkyries big comes up clutch as Golden State steals Game 1 of WNBA Finals","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/unheralded-valkyries-big-comes-clutch-232643323.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Angel Reese reveals her immediate plan after Dream’s WNBA Finals Game 1 loss to Valkyries","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/angel-reese-reveals-her-immediate-235223082.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Gabby Williams Scores 26 as Valkyries Beat Dream, 68-64, in Game 1 of WNBA Finals","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/gabby-williams-scores-26-valkyries-233531990.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Valkyries Reveal Adjustment That Shut Down Angel Reese After Hot Start","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-reveal-adjustment-shut-down-000036302.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"Valkyries won all season long with their swarming defense, hold down Dream to win WNBA Finals Game 1","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-won-season-long-swarming-002031778.html"},{"outlet":"The Athletic","publisher":"The Athletic","title":"WNBA Finals between Valkyries and Dream won't be pretty, but they'll be far from boring","url":"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7699687/2026/10/17/wnba-finals-valkyries-dream-defense/"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA Finals between Valkyries and Dream won’t be pretty, but they’ll be far from boring","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-between-valkyries-dream-003104055.html"},{"outlet":"Yahoo Sports","publisher":"Yahoo Sports","title":"WNBA Finals winners and losers include Valkyries' Gabby Williams, Dream's meltdown","url":"https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wnba-finals-winners-losers-valkyries-004919882.html"}],"image":{"url":"https://theathletic-media-production.s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/vG8Rm3iKdqBQ_pXrKuYGWAiih_1440x960.jpg","credit":"The Athletic","width":1440},"embed":null,"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","attribution":"Analysis data is licensed CC BY 4.0. Credit brokenews and link to the story page you took it from. Source headlines, story titles taken from a source headline, and quoted passages remain the property of their publishers and are quoted for comparison, not licensed onward.","terms":"https://www.brokenews.co/about#reuse"}