In Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals, Golden State set the defensive tone, locking down Atlanta in the fourth quarter to win 68-64. But the Dream returned the favor on Monday night, going into Ballhalla and evening the series with a 79-65 win. We’re all even as the series shifts to Atlanta, and the drama is only increasing.
The Dream enter as 3.5-point home favorites with -155 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Valkyries are +130 underdogs, with the game total set at 150.5 points.
Dream vs. Valkyries Preview
The story for Atlanta is Angel Reese. After a Game 1 road loss, Reese took much of the blame, believing she had let her teammates down. No one would say that was the case in Game 2. In a 14-point win that evened the series, the DPOY piled up 30 points and 16 rebounds while playing her elite brand of defense all night. It’s rare to see such singular determination from a player: there was no chance Reese was leaving that building with a loss.
But it’s not just a one-woman show. Atlanta is bringing a lot of physicality and the willingness to get dirty made the difference in Game 2. Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, and DeWanna Bonner drew 20 free throws; the entire Golden State team drew 19. They kept Golden State from getting going in transition by winning the rebounding and turnover battles. Showing up and beating a team at their own game on the road is an impressive feat that takes an entire team.
Golden State leaves its first two home games with more questions than answers. In Game 1, everyone except Gabby Williams struggled to score, but the Valkyries’ defense was so strong that they escaped with the win. In Game 2, the Dream made a concerted effort to take Williams out of the game, holding her to 14 points on 3-of-15 shooting. No one else could consistently find answers, and the Valkyries scored under 70 points for the second time in two Finals games.
It’s a good sign their defense can bother the Dream. Atlanta has a ghastly .377 eFG%, and if they weren’t getting to the line, they’d be down 2-0 in the series. If the Valkyries can keep a lid on the free throws while continuing to force the Dream into tough looks, they’ll get right back in this series. But the scoring has to be better. Players like Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton, and Cecilia Zandalasini need to step up and be consistent offensive outlets or they’ll be on a high wire all series long.
Now that we know these two teams a bit better, who will take home the win?
Dream vs. Valkyries Pick, Best Bet
It feels like the Dream unlocked something in Game 2. They can play Golden State’s game: get physical, disrupt passing lanes, and shoot a ton of threes. But they have something the Valkyries do not have, which is a consistent interior threat. While Kiah Stokes has done great work to counter Angel Reese’s effectiveness, she can’t shut her down alone, and her teammates are too vulnerable on switches. The Valkyries have a lot of questions to answer, and I expect a loss while they figure them out.
