Game 1: Saturday October 17, 12:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock (Chase Center)
Game 2: Monday October 19, 5:00 p.m., USA/Peacock (Chase Center)
Game 3: Wednesday October 21, 5:00 p.m., USA/Peacock (State Farm Arena)
Game 4: Saturday October 24, 10:00 a.m.., NBC/Peacock (State Farm Arena)
Game 5: Monday October 26, (if necessary): 5:00 p.m., USA/Peacock (Chase Center)
Game 6: Thursday October 29, (if necessary): 5:00 p.m., USA/Peacock (TBD/Atlanta)
Game 7: Saturday October 31, (if necessary): 5:00 p.m., USA/Peacock (Chase Center)

In addition to Valkyries Beat, I will have stories around the Finals for the Mercury News and The IX. Here are some of those stories this week:

Additionally, some beat writers have been following this team all season and have some great content. At the SF Standard, Jane Kenny has been delivering some excellent insight all season. Kenzo Fukuda has dug into unique topics for Clutch Points and Joseph Dycus has dropped some bangers for the San Jose Mercury News.

Conrado Pascaul has put out some great long-form content with Podium Finish, while Eric Apricot has some of the most insightful, inside-basketball content out there with Valkyrie Nation. Michelle Smith brings her Hall of Fame coverage over on The IX and Maya Goldberg-Safir always finds a unique perspective at Rough Notes.

There are so so so many watch parties across the Bay this week. First, our friends at Rikki’s will be hosting the most hopping night of the year, and then my friends at Mission Local and Rough Notes put together a guide of where else to watch the games.

I was on several podcasts and radio shows to preview the Finals, so here is a round up.

Valkyries Courtside Report

Hoops 360 (Yahoo)

Her Hoop Stats

Podhalla

The IX

No Cap Space

Gabby Williams: French national team star, World Cup All-Star, WNBA All-Star starter

After years just on the outside of WNBA stardom, Gabby Williams has become the face of the franchise. She led the Valkyries in scoring and was named to the all-WNBA defensive first team.

Fun fact: Williams played youth basketball in San Francisco and Oakland.

Gabby Williams is one of the stars left in the WNBA playoffs

Veronica Burton: 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player

Often called the heartbeat of the Valkyries, Burton went from a bench defender to a starting point guard when she joined Golden State. She was waived by Dallas and then left unprotected by Connecticut, giving the Valkyries a chance to poach their captain.

Fun fact: Burton was an excellent lacrosse player at Newton South High School.

How Veronica Burton hit the most important shot of the season
How Veronica Burton's offense took a step this season

Kiah Stokes: 3-time WNBA champion

Arguably the MVP of the semi-finals, Stokes is Golden State’s reliable center. She won’t score a ton, but she is one of the best shot blockers in the game and is essential as a rebounder.

Fun fact: Stokes would join Rebekah Brunson as the only WNBA player to win four titles.

Kiah Stokes is, now not so quietly, having an all-WNBA defensive season

Cecilia Zandalasini: 2023 WNBA champion

Zandalasini was the best 3-point shooter in the WNBA in 2024 before the Valkyries got her in the expansion draft. The Italian wing starts for the Valkyries and usually plays 18-20 minutes and will be in the closing lineups when they need a bucket.

Fun fact: This has been Zandalasini’s first season as a consistent starter.

Cecilia Zandalasi has found the hot hand
Zandalasini navigating tougher defenses as a starter

Kayla Thornton: 2024 WNBA champion, 2025 All-Star starter

The first Valkyries All-Star and the first player to score in franchise history, Thornton’s imprint has been all over the organization. She was left unprotected by New York in the expansion draft and joined Ohemaa Nyanin in the journey to the Bay.

Fun fact: Thornton was the seventh undrafted player to ever be named a WNBA All-Star.

Kayla Thornton's comeback season as a do-it-all-forward

Tiffany Hayes: 2024 WNBA Sixth Player Award winner

Hayes was the Valkyries first-ever free agent signing in 2025 after she left Las Vegas. The 37-year-old retired following the 2023 season, only to join the Aces and then the Valkyries. She is fourth on the team with 9 points per game despite coming off the bench.

Fun fact: Hayes spent the first 10 years of her career with Atlanta.

Tiffany Hayes' joy in the Bay essential to Valkyries success

Kaitlyn Chen: 2025 NCAA national champion

Golden State’s third round pick in 2025, Chen was originally cut out of training camp but rejoined the team last June and never looked back. She went from 2.0 points per game to 7.2 this season and is one of the Valkyries’ most reliable bench scorers.

Fun fact: Chen is the first Taiwanese American to play in the WNBA.

Is Kaitlyn Chen the WNBA's most improved player?

Kaila Charles: The Valkyries closing defender

Once a hardship signing, Charles went from a temporary Band-Aid last season to signed to a two-year, guaranteed deal. Nakase often closes games with Charles off the bench as one of her most trusted perimeter defenders.

Fun fact: Ohemaa Nyanin first identified Charles as a hardship signing with New York four years ago.

How Kaila Charles has become a key rebounder

Laeticia Amihere: 2022 national champion

After a stretch in the regular season where her role seemed in doubt, Amihere has played some important minutes late in the season as a backup center. She played just one game in the first round, but could be important against a bigger Dream squad.

Fun fact: Amihere was waived by the Dream in training camp 2025, which is how she originally joined the Valkyries.

Laeticia Amihere giving it her all no matter the playing time

Janelle Salaun: 2026 WNBA Sixth Player Award winner

Salaun scored just seconds into her WNBA career after joining the Valkyries last season and has gone on to be one of their most reliable scorers. She made the league’s all-rookie team last season and was willing to come off the bench as an offensive weapon in 2026.

Fun fact: Her brother, Tidjane, plays for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.

Janelle Salaun's fearless shooting defines the Valkyries offense
Janelle Salaun is excelling in whatever role

Aminata Gueye: 2026 World Cup silver medalist

Gueye signed with the Valkyries on September 20 and played in just one regular season game before suddenly playing nearly 11 minutes per contest in the playoffs.

Fun fact: Gueye was the only newcomer to France’s World Cup qualifying roster.

How do the Valkyries match up with the Dream?

Juste Jocyte: Valkyries’ first draft pick, No. 5 overall 2025

Jocyte joined the Valkyries late after her European season went long, but has shown flashes of being a dynamite scorer. She is the only rookie on the roster.

Fun fact: Represented Lithuania in the EuroBasket tournament last season.