WNBA Finals to proceed without Las Vegas Aces or New York Liberty

Atlanta and Golden State eliminated the recent finalists.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Five of the last six WNBA Finals have included either the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty, or in the case of 2023 Via @TheAthletic on X

What happened: The WNBA Finals will not feature the Las Vegas Aces or the New York Liberty, snapping a dominant multi-year run for the franchises. The league enters a new era following the elimination of both teams from the 2026 postseason.

Why it matters: At least one of the two teams appeared in five of the last six championship series, including a head-to-head matchup in 2023. Their exits mark a significant shift in the landscape as the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream advance to the title round.

By the numbers: The Atlanta Dream ended New York's season with an 85-83 victory.

What to watch: The Dream and Valkyries will now face off for the 2026 WNBA championship.

Sources

@TheAthletic 2026-10-10T14:49:56.267099+00:00

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