Since her 2023 NCAA Championship matchup, one thing that no one would deny about Angel Reese is that she is a polarizing figure in women’s basketball. But the thing is, just as Stephen A. Smith once pointed out, she used that ability to capture attention — positive or negative. As that happened, she became more visible — for good reasons and bad. At the end of the day, a rising tide lifts all boats. Welcome to the eve of the 2026 WNBA Finals, where Reese and the Atlanta Dream will visit the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center. 

Two days ago, I reported how Game 3, set to be played in State Farm Arena, Atlanta, has become the priciest Finals game in WNBA history. The reasons are obvious. First, this is their chance after 13 years to clinch their maiden title. Second, the team is led by Angel Reese. But if NBA’s Draymond Green is to be believed, a majority of people will tune in for a completely different reason.

“Angel is gonna have people watching this because there’s a large consortium of people who want to see her succeed,” Green said on the October 16 episode of his The Draymond Green Show. “There’s an even larger group of people who want to see her fail, and they’re gonna watch to see her fail, which is great.

“Great. Come on. Come watch for the league. It’s great. But they’re going to watch because they want to see her fail. So, I think that also brings something to this matchup.”

According to Front Office Sports, the cheapest tickets for Game 1 at San Francisco’s Chase Center were listed at $214 as of Thursday, October 15. That is a steep jump from last year’s Finals opener between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, when the cheapest ticket ended at just $34. With resale prices running well above previous years, the series could even become the most expensive WNBA Finals on record. Atlanta’s Game 3 has a get-in price of $201. But the demand has extended beyond ticket prices.

All factors continue to elevate for the historic defensive Finals matchup

During the presale for Games 3 and 4 tickets in Atlanta, approximately 42,000 people were reportedly in the queue as the Dream moved their games from 3,500-capacity Gateway Center Arena to 17,000-capacity State Farm Arena. But Green is also talking about broadcast viewership.

While we can’t yet pre-empt how many viewers will tune into their TVs to watch the Finals, we do know how much big brands are putting their trust in this series.

According to Sports Business Journal, NBC, which will air Games 1 and 4, has already sold out of ad inventory. The same is the case with USA Network, which will be airing the rest of the games.

Reese’s growing profile is one part of the appeal, but the Valkyries have helped fuel the excitement as well.

Golden State has sold out every home game across its first two seasons, and its rapid rise to a first Finals appearance has given fans another reason to buy in. Going into Game 1 on Saturday, ESPN predicts the Valkyries have over a 62 percent chance to win the matchup, considering the game is being played in Valhalla.

Together, the two teams have created a matchup with both a compelling championship race and plenty of attention surrounding it.

Angel Reese and the Dream will look to finish their unbeaten run

Game 1 is set to tip off in just a few hours, and Atlanta will have to navigate two opening road games at Chase Center before the series moves to Georgia. The Dream have yet to lose in the playoffs, sweeping both the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty. Golden State has been just as convincing, sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to reach the Finals.

They finished the regular season 30-14, while the Valkyries went 32-12 to secure the league’s second-best record. The Dream’s defensive pressure has been central to their postseason success, with 2026 Defensive Player of the Year Angel Reese anchoring the paint and Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and Allisha Gray, who continues to be probable for Game 1, creating problems on the perimeter. Atlanta has also averaged 92.6 points per game in the playoffs, the highest mark among postseason teams.

Golden State, however, has the depth to challenge that balance along with its defense.

Its bench averaged 35.9 points per game during the regular season, giving the Valkyries another source of offense against Atlanta’s defense. They also won all three regular-season meetings between the teams, offering a reminder that the Dream’s unbeaten playoff run will face a serious test.

For Angel Reese, the Finals are about more than answering her critics. They are a chance to help Atlanta secure its first championship while competing under the brightest spotlight of her career. Whether viewers tune in to cheer her on or see if she falters, the attention Green described is already there. What Reese does with it over the next few games will be the real story. The two meet in a few hours to kick off the Finals series at Chase Center. Will you tune in?