For the first time in the history of the WNBA Finals, the championship will be decided by a Game 7. The Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, with the winner claiming a first WNBA title for their franchise. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT), with coverage on USA Network and streaming on Peacock.
Related coverage: https://emadan.store/nikola-jokic-200th-triple-double-nuggets-pelicans-october-28/ and https://emadan.store/sindhu-anmol-kharb-all-indian-hylo-open-semifinal-lakshya-sen/
How Game 7 was forced
Atlanta kept its season alive on Thursday, October 29, beating Golden State 80-69 in Game 6 at a sold-out State Farm Arena in Atlanta to tie the best-of-seven series at 3-3. The Dream raced to a 32-15 first-quarter lead and never gave it up. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21 for Atlanta, while Angel Reese recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. For Golden State, Gabby Williams scored 26 points and Tiffany Hayes added 15. The Valkyries had a chance to clinch the title in Game 6, in only their second season as a franchise, but must now win on their home floor instead.
Why this Game 7 is historic
The WNBA Finals became a best-of-seven series only in 2025, when the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in four games, so no previous Finals had ever reached a seventh game. Before that, the championship series was best-of-five from 2005 through 2024, and best-of-three before that. Both finalists are seeking their first championship, so Saturday will crown a first-time champion either way. History favours the home team in winner-take-all Finals games: the home side has won 11 of the 13 previous do-or-die Finals games. Golden State has also been formidable at home this postseason, going 6-1 at Chase Center, its only home playoff loss coming to Atlanta in Game 2 of this series.
A record price tag before tipoff
Game 7 is already the most expensive Finals game on record for ticket prices. As of noon ET on Friday, the cheapest get-in ticket on resale sites was $353, according to TicketData.com, as reported by Reuters and Field Level Media. That would beat the previous Finals record of $275, set by Game 1 of this same series at the same venue on October 17. Other trackers reported even higher Friday readings, including $381 on Friday morning and a $396 TickPick get-in price. One honest qualifier matters: TicketData’s Keith Pagello told Field Level Media this would be the most expensive Finals game ever, not necessarily the most expensive WNBA game ever, noting that some Caitlin Clark regular-season games in very small arenas have spiked higher. Resale prices move by the hour and will keep moving until tipoff.
What to watch on Saturday
Atlanta carries the momentum of a dominant Game 6, built on 13 three-pointers, tied for the most by a team facing elimination in Finals history. Golden State carries the home crowd at Chase Center, known to its fans as Ballhalla, and a team that has bounced back before: the Valkyries already survived a winner-take-all game in the first round against Dallas after trailing by as many as 16 points. The keys are familiar from the series so far: whether Atlanta’s perimeter shooting stays hot, whether Golden State’s defence can slow Gray and Howard, and whether the Valkyries can feed off a home crowd in a game where one loss ends the season.
How to watch
Game 7: Saturday, October 31, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, Chase Center, San Francisco. TV: USA Network. Streaming: Peacock. This is a preview: the game has not yet been played, and the result will be a separate development.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Has there ever been a Game 7 in the WNBA Finals before? A: No. This is the first, because the Finals only became best-of-seven in 2025.
Q: Who hosts Game 7? A: Golden State, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Q: What time does Game 7 start? A: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on Saturday, October 31.
Sources
- USA Today Game 6 report: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/playoffs/2026/10/29/wnba-finals-game-6-golden-state-valkyries-atlanta-dream-channel-score-results-highlights–live/92483258007/
- USA Today first Game 7 report: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/playoffs/2026/10/29/wnba-finals-first-game-7-atlanta-dream-vs-golden-state-valkyries/92500726007/
- Reuters / Field Level Media ticket report: https://www.reuters.com/sports/game-7-trending-most-expensive-wnba-finals-ticket-ever–flm-2026-10-30/
- Front Office Sports: https://frontofficesports.com/article/wnbas-first-finals-game-7-comes-with-a-record-price-tag/
- Sports Business Journal: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/10/30/wnba-finals-game-7-sets-ticket-price-record-for-league/
