One key to victory for all four WNBA semifinalists
October 07, 2026
The Atlanta Dream aren’t the only ones leveling up — the stakes are sky-high ahead of tonight’s Game 2 doubleheader. These best-of-five semifinal series won’t decide themselves, so let’s hoop to it.
Source: Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
The GIST: The Atlanta Dream aren’t the only ones leveling up — the stakes are sky-high ahead of tonight’s Game 2 doubleheader. These best-of-five semifinal series won’t decide themselves, so let’s hoop to it.
Atlanta Dream (up 1-0) vs. NY Liberty — Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET
- 🗽 What the Liberty need to do: Punish the Dream’s high-risk, high-reward defense. Atlanta loves to gamble (it’s why they lead the league in steals), but if NY can survive that initial pressure, there’ll be opportunities to capitalize on an out-of-position Atlanta D.
- 💭 What the Dream need to do: Step up for the injured Allisha Gray. DeWanna Bonner and Jordin Canada did the heavy lifting in Game 1 — but the Dream need more from Rhyne Howard, who knocked down just 25% of her shots in the opener.
Golden State Valkyries (up 1-0) vs. Las Vegas Aces — Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET
- 🃏 What the Aces need to do: Win the battle of the boards. A clear injury report helps the cause, but better rebounding is non-negotiable. Vegas was outrebounded 52-25 in Game 1 (A’ja Wilson hauled in just four), surrendering an abysmal 17 offensive boards.
- 💜 What the Valkyries need to do: Rinse and repeat…but that’s easier said than done. Aces head coach Becky Hammon is known for her coaching acumen and will adjust from Game 1. Can the Valks adapt on the fly? In bench boss Natalie Nakase, Ballhalla trusts.
Enjoying this article? Want more?
Sign up for The GIST and receive the latest sports news straight to your inbox three times a week.
