Angel Reese has helped lead the Atlanta Dream to the 2026 WNBA Finals to face the Golden State Valkyries. This marks the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year’s first finals appearance. This is also the Dream’s first trip to the championship round since 2013.
Reese has been incredible for Atlanta this postseason. Through five games, she has averaged 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 2.2 blocks. Atlanta is on a roll, having swept the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty in the first two rounds.
The Valkyries hold home-court advantage in this year’s WNBA Finals. Games 1 and 2 will be played in Chase Center before the series shifts to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4.
Dream games are usually played at Gateway Center Arena. However, the team will host its first two home games in the Finals at State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks.
The WNBA announced Tuesday that Games 3 and 4 will be played at State Farm Arena. Game 3 has been moved up one day to Oct. 21 to avoid a schedule conflict with a Sombr concert scheduled on Oct. 22.
Game 4’s tipoff on Oct. 24 has moved up to 1:00 p.m. ET, with the Hawks agreeing to push their season-opener tipoff to 8:30 p.m. ET.
Reese shared her thoughts on the development during an interview at practice on Tuesday.
“It’s a bittersweet moment because I do love Gateway so much,” Reese said. “I love the intimacy of being here and all the fans coming out and supporting us. And even if we couldn’t go to State Farm, I was going to be grateful to just be able to be here and have everybody here.
“… I am looking forward to everyone showing up and supporting us at State Farm because every game has been a great turnout. Celebrities on the side, everybody coming to support.”
Gateway Center Arena has a capacity of 3,500, while State Farm Arena can accommodate 17,000 people.
The WNBA Finals will start on Saturday with Game 1 at Chase Center.
