ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Golden State Valkyries had the Atlanta Dream’s number in the regular season. The Valkyries swept the season series between the two teams, which came during a five-game losing streak for the Dream.
The circumstances could not be more different heading into Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The Dream are on a 10-game winning streak with their last loss coming in August. The Valkyries are on an equally impressive run. They’re 8-2 in their last 10, cruising past the Dallas Wings in the first round and the Las Vegas Aces, led by MVP A’ja Wilson, in the semifinals.
Putting the past behind them
The Dream roster is doing their best to put the disastrous West Coast trip behind them. Star Angel Reese said the Dream are “a really different team” heading into the Finals.
The biggest difference has undoubtedly been veteran DeWanna Bonner, who only joined the Dream after the regular season series against the Valkyries. Bonner was a major part of the Dream’s semifinal win over the New York Liberty, including a double-double in the clinching Game 3.
Bonner praised her Dream teammates’ preparedness and desire to push forward and be better.
Naz Hillmon summarized the trip with “we just didn’t like the feeling of all those games in a row.”
Canada is the key
Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) plays against the Indiana Fever in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)(Michael Conroy | AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Jordin Canada was a solid piece for the Dream in the regular season, but she has turned on the jets under the brightest lights and established herself as the team’s playoff MVP.
The veteran has averaged 19.2 points, 8.8 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game with three double-doubles, outpacing her 11.3-point, 7.3-assist, 3.5-rebound regular-season stat line.
Canada told Atlanta News First’s Connor Hines that the biggest difference has been her consistency and availability on the court. Her 43 games played in the regular season are by far a career high, nearly equaling her two years with the Dream in 2024 and 2025 combined.
“Being healthy overall and being able to stay on the floor is what’s been really important,” she said.
Allisha Gray day-to-day
Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray, left, fights for possession with New York Liberty guard Pauline Astier, right, during the first half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball semifinals Sunday, Oct, 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)(Colin Hubbard | AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Canada’s increased production has been sorely needed with regular-season leading scorer Allisha Gray day-to-day with a finger injury.
Gray, a four-time All-Star who led the Dream in scoring this season with 19 points per game, initially went down after hard contact on a screen in the first quarter of Game 1 of the semifinals. She retreated to the locker room holding her hand with 3:59 remaining in the first quarter.
She briefly returned to action in the second quarter, but her day ended for good after she dove for a loose ball on the defensive end of the floor with 3:44 left in the first half. Gray immediately grabbed her hand again and went down the tunnel. The team ruled her out just before halftime.
Gray missed Game 2 and Game 3 with the injury and told Hines she is “day-by-day” at the team’s media day before heading to San Francisco.
Staying at their (new) digs
A major story throughout the week has been uncertainty over the Dream’s home court. State Farm Arena was set to host a concert and two Hawks games during the WNBA Finals, leaving the Dream in the lurch until the WNBA moved the Dream’s home games to allow the team to play at State Farm.
Dream players universally praised Dream fans and their presence at State Farm Arena. The players praised the atmosphere Dream fans created at home games and were overjoyed at the prospect of playing at State Farm during the Finals.
The team will move to the arena full time in 2027.
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