WNBA Finals: Angel Reese headlines championship showdown as league seeks to draw viewers without Caitlin Clark

The WNBA didn't get Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham in the Finals, but it may have gotten the next best thing in terms of viewership hopes.

Angel Reese’s Atlanta Dream face the Golden State Valkyries in a best-of-seven series beginning Oct. 17, matching a franchise seeking its first championship against an expansion team chasing a title in its second season.

Both organizations also bring distinctive cultural identities. Atlanta’s players once campaigned against their own Republican co-owner, supporting Democrat Raphael Warnock. Golden State has embraced LGBTQ outreach through Pride celebrations, drag performances and community partnerships.

Those histories offer another layer to a matchup with straightforward basketball questions: Can Golden State prevent Reese from creating second chances, and can Atlanta’s defense generate enough easy baskets to win the championship?

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These Finals could provide an indication of the WNBA’s current drawing power without Clark, and just how much star power Angel Reese has.

Reese brings a substantial following of her own. Her Instagram account had approximately 5.3 million followers as of Oct. 10, which is the most of any WNBA player and more than one million more than Clark.

Her visibility extends beyond basketball. She has a signature Reebok shoe and became the first female athlete featured in a national McDonald’s meal collaboration in 2025. Those partnerships have put her name before consumers who may not regularly watch the WNBA.

Her first Finals appearance now offers an opportunity to see whether that recognition translates into viewers following her pursuit of a championship, with Clark and the Fever eliminated.

There are substantial audiences to measure against. Indiana’s decisive first-round loss to Las Vegas averaged 2.25 million viewers across USA Network and CNBC. Atlanta’s semifinal opener against New York averaged 1.2 million on ABC, according to Sports Media Watch. The games aired on different networks and in different time slots, making them benchmarks rather than a direct measure of either player’s individual appeal.

The league has already demonstrated that a Finals without either Clark or Reese can attract a sizable audience. Last year’s Las Vegas–Phoenix championship series averaged 1.5 million viewers across ABC and ESPN, the second-most-watched Finals on ESPN networks behind 2024.

This year’s series will air across NBC, USA Network and Peacock, adding another consideration to comparisons with previous championships.

One series cannot establish the league’s permanent audience ceiling. But Reese’s championship debut could help show how much of her substantial off-court following—and the broader interest surrounding the WNBA—will follow her onto its biggest stage.

Atlanta brings a history of campaigning against a Republican co-owner, while Golden State has established prominent ties to LGBTQ advocacy.

The Dream’s political activism drew national attention in 2020, when then-co-owner Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler opposed the WNBA’s embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement. She urged the league to replace planned Black Lives Matter and "Say Her Name" warmup apparel with American flags.

"The truth is, we need less — not more politics in sports," Loeffler wrote to then-Commissioner Cathy Engelbert.

Dream players and others across the league responded by wearing "Vote Warnock" shirts, supporting Democrat Raphael Warnock in his challenge to Loeffler. Atlanta’s Elizabeth Williams described the effort as voluntary and driven by players. Warnock defeated Loeffler in the January 2021 runoff.

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The following month, the league approved the Dream’s sale to an ownership group comprising Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and former Dream guard Renee Montgomery. Montgomery, who had sat out the 2020 season to focus on social justice work, remains a co-owner and vice president. The franchise’s official biography highlights her advocacy for social justice and equality in women’s sports. Those events preceded Reese’s arrival in Atlanta by several years.

Golden State, which began playing in 2025, has a shorter organizational history but has made LGBTQ outreach a visible part of its identity.

Its second annual Pride Game, against Atlanta on June 26, featured a surrounding celebration with drag performances, Pride merchandise and a halftime lineup featuring Sasha Colby. The franchise also announced participation in four regional Pride celebrations and sponsorship of the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

The Valkyries’ advocacy earned recognition from Equality California and the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, along with a Community Ally Award from the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club.

After Golden State’s victory over Atlanta that Pride Night, Gabby Williams celebrated toward a camera with the declaration, "For the gays!"

Williams and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase have also publicly supported transgender athletes participating in women’s sports.

Before an Aug. 2 game, Nakase said her emphasis on inclusion extended to transgender women.

"I’m all about women, little girls deserving to play, and that includes trans women," she said.

Williams expressed a similar position during a May 19 media scrum, before clip resurfaced and spread widely in August.

"I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime," Williams told reporters.

Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom subsequently cited Williams’ support as an inspiration for his announced bid to enter the 2027 WNBA draft.

During an Aug. 14 interview with former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, Freedom recalled seeing comments welcoming transgender teammates and opponents and deciding to pursue the opportunity himself. Freedom later confirmed to OutKick that it was Williams' comments that inspired him.

"If they don’t have any problem with it, why not just go out there and take my shot?" Freedom said.

This championship series will also close a chapter for the WNBA’s leadership. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced in September that she will retire at the end of 2026, making Atlanta’s matchup with Golden State the last Finals of her tenure.

Her final season began with uncertainty over whether labor negotiations would disrupt the league’s schedule. The eventual agreement delivered substantial raises for players and a seven-year deal running through 2032, giving her successor a foundation for the years ahead.

Questions about officiating and player safety continued during the season. In June, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas received a one-game suspension after making contact with her fist to Clark’s throat. Officials did not call a foul during the play; the league imposed the punishment after reviewing it. Indiana coach Stephanie White publicly criticized the officiating afterward.

Away from the court, league officials and players also confronted online harassment and a widening debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports. An August meeting of the league’s anti-hate task force addressed both subjects. The WNBA said there were no immediate eligibility matters affecting the league and pledged further discussions with teams and the players’ association.

Some changes will arrive after Engelbert leaves. A centralized replay center is scheduled to launch in 2027, giving officials access to additional camera angles and assistance reviewing eligible plays. Its introduction will provide an early opportunity for the next commissioner to demonstrate progress on a recurring source of frustration.

Expansion will also continue, with Cleveland beginning play in 2028, Detroit in 2029 and Philadelphia in 2030. That means more markets, more roster spots and more pressure to turn growing interest into sustained support.

Against that backdrop, these Finals offer a look at the league Engelbert is leaving behind—and the task ahead: building lasting audiences for more teams and players while addressing the disputes that have accompanied the WNBA’s growth.

And there will be some actual basketball being played too.

Reese reached her first WNBA Finals after averaging 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds during the regular season and winning Defensive Player of the Year.

Golden State’s Kiah Stokes could make those opportunities harder to find. She helped defend A’ja Wilson during the semifinals and collected 14 rebounds in the opener. The battle near the basket will test whether Reese can establish position and create second chances against another experienced rebounder.

At the other end, Gabby Williams has taken on a larger scoring role for Golden State. She enters the Finals averaging about 23 points in the playoffs, up from roughly 14 during the regular season. Atlanta must decide how much defensive attention to give her without leaving other Valkyries open.

Williams has already shown she will trust those teammates. Late in the second semifinal game against Las Vegas, she passed to Veronica Burton, whose only basket of the night was a decisive 3-pointer. Tiffany Hayes added 21 points off the bench, demonstrating how Golden State can find scoring help beyond its starters.

Atlanta has its own player capable of controlling a game without dominating the headlines. Jordin Canada scored 19 points and set up 11 baskets for teammates in the win that clinched the Dream’s Finals berth. Her ability to find Howard and Reese—or attack the basket herself—will be important against Golden State’s league-leading defense.

Golden State won all three regular-season meetings with Atlanta. The Dream now bring additional playoff experience through DeWanna Bonner, who arrived late in the season, while Allisha Gray’s recovery from a hand injury remains a major consideration.

The central contest is straightforward: Atlanta needs Canada to create good opportunities and Reese to keep possessions alive. Golden State needs Williams to continue leading its offense while Stokes and her teammates prevent the Dream from getting repeated chances at the basket.