What happened: Angel Reese said delivering Atlanta's first WNBA championship is the goal during Finals media availability. Game 1 is Saturday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

Why it matters: Atlanta has never won a WNBA title and reached the Finals for the first time since 2013. Reese won 2026 DPOY after joining Atlanta and anchors its two-way playoff push.

What to watch: The opener decides early series momentum, with Atlanta rotation availability still to be finalized.