Postseason players are cashing in, as playoff bonus hikes hit the WNBA.

WNBA Finals take over Ballhalla

The WNBA is promising something new, as No. 2 Golden State and No. 4 Atlanta clash in a best-of-seven series guaranteed to yield a first-time league champion.

• The Dream enters Saturday’s Game 1 off an unbeaten playoff run, while the Valkyries open their two-game homestand on a 5-1 postseason record.

• “It’s not a surprise,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said of the 2025 expansion team’s success. “Because [GM Ohemaa Nyanin] picked all these killers, these dogs, these competitive players that want to win.” (Watch full clip)

Scouting report: Points will come at a premium, as 2026 DPOY Angel Reese leads a steal-savvy Dream squad against the Valkyries’ league-leading defense.

• Atlanta has reached the title series three times since its 2008 debut, most recently falling short against Minnesota in 2013.

• “I think everybody was hungry to prove how good we could be this year,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said. “And now we have an opportunity to win the championship.” (Watch full clip)

Tune in: The 2026 WNBA Finals tip off on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET (NBC).

WNBA finalists headline 2026 All-Defensive Teams

The WNBA confirmed defense wins games, as six league finalists received 2026 All-Defensive Team honors on Thursday.

• Golden State’s Gabby Williams and Atlanta’s Angel Reese and Rhyne Howard headline the First Team, followed by Las Vegas’s 2026 MVP A’ja Wilson and Washington’s Shakira Austin.

• The Dream’s Jordin Canada joins the Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton on the Second Team, alongside the New York’s Breanna Stewart and the Mystics’ Sonia Citron. (See full report)

Big shoes: Adding to her breakout season in Atlanta, Reese stands out as one of just two current or former Defensive Player of the Year winners across both lineups — alongside three-time DPOY Wilson.

• This week’s announcement marks the 24-year-old’s All-Defense First Team debut, with Howard and Austin also picking up first-time nods.

• “Every game I’m treating it like it’s win or go home, and making sure I put my body out there every single night and give it my all, every little detail,” Reese said. (See full remarks)

NWSL teams kick off postseason pushes

The NWSL playoffs are fast approaching, as the league returns to a host of postseason clinching scenarios with just three regular-season matches remaining.

• Sitting four points clear atop the table, shorthanded Gotham has a shot at claiming the NWSL Shield this weekend, securing the title with a win over No. 3 Washington, plus a No. 8 North Carolina win over No. 2 San Diego.

• “It’s making sure the players that stay here are prepared and ready, that we support our international players, and that we have a plan to beat Washington when we go down there,” said Gotham manager Juan Carlos Amorós. (See full standings)

Around the horn: The Spirit can punch its postseason ticket with either a win or draw against the Bats, or results from the Wave, No. 14 Bay FC, or No. 16 Chicago — while No. 4 Utah and No. 5 Kansas City can clinch with a win and some help.

• No. 11 Orlando is on the brink of elimination, missing the playoffs with a loss to No. 12 Houston or wins by No. 10 Denver, No. 9 Seattle, or the Courage.

• “It seems like we either have really good or really bad starts,” said Pride forward Summer Yates after a recent 2-1 loss to San Diego. “That’s obviously not what we want. We want to score, take the lead, and defend our house.” (See full scenarios)

Tune in: The NWSL returns tonight, as No. 13 Boston takes on No. 15 Louisville at 8 PM ET (Prime).

The 2026 WNBA Finals are here, as No. 2 Golden State and No. 4 Atlanta tip off the best-of-seven series tomorrow — with a franchise-first league title on the line.

• It all starts in San Francisco, as Gabby Williams and the Valkyries welcome Angel Reese’s Dream to Ballhalla for what’s sure to be a lights-out battle.

• Whether you’re gunning for Golden State or all-in on Atlanta, keep up on all the postseason action in the WNBA app.

Tune in: The WNBA Finals tip off on October 17th at 3:30 PM ET (NBC/Peacock).

NWSL Skills Competition taps league stars

The NWSL is showing off its skills, tapping 16 standouts for 2026 Championship Weekend’s fourth-annual Skills Challenge — with $35,000 on the line.

• Headliners include Jaedyn Shaw (Gotham), Savy King (Angel City), Hal Hershfelt (Washington), Claire Hutton (Bay), and Lo’eau LaBonta (Kansas City), all set to battle it out in Washington, DC.

• Any Skills Challenge participants who make the title match will be replaced, while two additional players from Seattle and Utah have yet to be named. (See full roster)

How it works: In line with previous iterations, two teams of eight will compete in games like Gauntlet, Breakaway Circuit, and Precision Point, while soccer personality Duda Pavão calls the shots as on-ground host.

• The event takes over Alexandria Virginia’s Episcopal High School on November 20th at 5:30 PM ET, with a TV broadcast following on November 28th at 2 PM ET on CBS. (Get tickets)

Grand Slam of Flag lands in L.A.

Flag football is taking flight, as SMAC Entertainment, Creative Artists Agency, and EverWonder Studio teamed up to launch the Grand Slam of Flag, a new global tournament series set to take over LA in February 2027.

• Six of the world’s top teams — Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Spain, China, and the US — will compete for a record $50,000 purse in the lead-up to the sport’s 2028 Olympics debut.

• “With historic prize money, national pride on the line, and the world watching, every game will matter,” said Commissioner Sam Rapoport. (See full release)

Looking ahead: The Grand Slam of Flag will consult with the NFL on best practices, as both women’s and men’s flag football continues to gain steam across the US.

• “Women’s flag football is at an extraordinary inflection point,” Rapoport continued. “For the first time, kids around the world can grow up with the Olympics as a destination.”

Number of the day

1.4M

Eight WNBA playoff games averaged 1.4 million viewers on ESPN — up 23% over 2025 — marking the network’s most-watched postseason on record.