After days of intriguing playoff games, the WNBA Finals tip off on Saturday night as the Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. The matchup will crown a new champion, with neither team having won a title before.
While the Finals promises an exciting affair, the playoffs were memorable, with plenty of upsets along the way. Stars from multiple teams showcased their talents during the stretch, with some being more memorable than others.
From Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson to Angel Reese and Gabby Williams, several big names made their mark. With that said, let’s take a look at the top 10 performers in this year’s WNBA playoffs as the season reaches its climax.
10. Veronica Burton – Golden State Valkyries
Joining the Valkyries from the Connecticut Sun’s roster in the 2024 WNBA expansion draft, Veronica Burton has become one of Golden State’s most important players. The guard secured the Most Improved Player award in 2025 and has continued the evolution this season, averaging a career-high 12.6 points per game.
Burton has carried that form into the playoffs, remaining a key part of the Valkyries’ run to the Finals. She is averaging 9.5 points per game, making her the team’s fourth-highest scorer in the postseason. She has also shot 35.3% from the field, another career high.
With a WNBA title now within reach, Burton will look to maintain her contribution as Golden State prepares for the biggest stage of its season.
9. Kiah Stokes – Golden State Valkyries
A three-time WNBA champion, Kiah Stokes is on course to win back-to-back titles for the second time in her career. The center won the championship in 2022 and 2023 and was on the Aces roster last season.
Stokes’ championship experience has made her an important presence for the Valkyries this season, and her impact has carried into the playoffs. She leads the team in rebounding, averaging 9.5 per game, and also leads in blocks with 2.0 per game. Offensively, she is averaging 3.2 points per game.
However, her presence in the paint has made the biggest difference. Stokes continues to anchor a young Valkyries team, using her experience to help lead the way as Golden State pushes for its first championship.
8. Tiffany Hayes – Golden State Valkyries
Tiffany Hayes has been one of the Golden State Valkyries’ most consistent performers since joining the franchise in February 2025. The guard has continued to deliver for Golden State, helping the team reach the WNBA Finals.
Hayes ranks second on the Valkyries’ postseason scoring charts, averaging 13.3 points per game. Her scoring has made her an important part of the rotation, and Golden State will need her to maintain that form as the stakes get higher.
With the Valkyries hosting the Atlanta Dream tonight for Game 1, Hayes will be expected to play a key role whenever she is called upon.
7. Allisha Gray – Atlanta Dream
Atlanta’s first-round sweep of the Washington Mystics was a good example of what Allisha Gray brings to the team. She averaged 22.0 points per game in that series, giving the Dream a reliable scoring option as they moved into the semifinals.
Across her three playoff appearances, Gray is averaging 17.0 points per game while shooting 43.6% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. Her ability to score from the perimeter gives Atlanta a different dimension alongside Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada.
A hand injury kept Gray out of the final two games against New York, although the Dream still completed the sweep. Her availability is worth watching as Atlanta enters the Finals. If she can return to the form she showed against Washington, the Dream will have another dangerous scoring option to call upon.
6. Breanna Stewart – New York Liberty
Breanna Stewart’s postseason ended before the Finals, but her individual numbers were among the strongest of the playoffs. She averaged 27.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.0 assists across five games, shooting 48.2% from the field and 92.5% from the free-throw line.
Stewart carried a substantial offensive workload for New York, scoring from multiple areas and creating opportunities for her teammates. She also contributed defensively, showing how much the Liberty relied on her to influence games at both ends of the floor.
Atlanta ultimately ended New York’s playoff run in the semifinals. Stewart’s production could not prevent the elimination, but it showed how effective she remained under postseason pressure.
5. A’ja Wilson – Las Vegas Aces
A’ja Wilson’s playoff run ended in the semifinals, but she still put together one of the postseason’s most productive individual campaigns. The Aces star averaged 27.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in six games, recording 165 total points.
Wilson dominated the first round against Indiana, recording 38 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1 before adding 36 points in Game 3. Las Vegas advanced past the Fever, but Golden State proved to be a much tougher obstacle.
The Valkyries swept the Aces despite Wilson continuing to produce offensively, with her numbers outlining how much Las Vegas depended on her scoring and rebounding.
4. Rhyne Howard – Atlanta Dream
Rhyne Howard has given Atlanta another dependable source of offense during its playoff run, averaging 19.2 points per game across five appearances. The guard’s ability to create her own shot has helped take some of the pressure off Angel Reese and Jordin Canada.
Howard’s impact is not limited to scoring, either. Her defensive pressure gives Atlanta another way to disrupt opposing offenses, and she can make life difficult for guards trying to establish their rhythm. That combination has helped the Dream advance through the postseason unbeaten.
The challenge now is maintaining that production against Golden State. The Valkyries have shown they can make life difficult for opposing scorers, so Howard’s ability to find openings and convert her chances will be important.
3. Jordin Canada – Atlanta Dream
Atlanta’s offense has had a clear organizer throughout the playoffs: Jordin Canada. Averaging 19.2 points and 8.8 assists per game in five appearances, Canada is a reliable scorer with the ability to put teammates in good positions.
Canada helped the Dream defeat Washington before they eliminated New York in the semifinals. Her playmaking has been valuable because Atlanta has several capable scorers. Rather than relying on one option, the Dream can use Canada’s passing to keep the offense moving.
Against Golden State, Canada will face a defense that has helped carry the Valkyries to the Finals. If she can keep Atlanta’s offense organized, the Dream will have a strong chance of making the series competitive.
2. Angel Reese – Atlanta Dream
Angel Reese has made her first WNBA postseason count. The forward is averaging 18.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game across five appearances, helping the Dream reach the Finals without dropping a game.
Reese’s performance in the series-clinching win over New York stood out, as she finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. Her work around the basket has given Atlanta a reliable interior option, while her defensive presence has made it harder for opponents to score inside.
The Finals will bring a different kind of challenge. Golden State has relied on its defensive discipline throughout the playoffs, and Reese will need to find ways to make an impact against a team that can compete physically in the paint.
1. Gabby Williams – Golden State Valkyries
Gabby Williams can be credited with Golden State’s WNBA Finals run. She averaged 22.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in six playoff appearances, while also making 2.8 three-pointers per game.
Her performances against Las Vegas were particularly important. Williams scored 25 points in Game 1 and 20 points in Game 2 as the Valkyries swept the Aces. Those contributions helped Golden State get past one of the league’s most experienced postseason teams and secure its place in the Finals.
Williams has provided Golden State with scoring and rebounding at a time when both have been essential. The matchup with Atlanta will give her another opportunity to show that her playoff production can hold up against any team.
Edited by Aniket Rai
