FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) \u2014 Three former Florida Gulf Coast University women’s basketball coaches came within one victory of a WNBA championship Saturday night, as the Atlanta Dream fell to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals.<\/p>\n
Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko and assistants Chelsea Lyles and Camryn Brown, all former members of FGCU’s coaching staff<\/a>, helped guide the Dream to the championship series before Golden State secured a 68-63 victory at Chase Center in San Francisco.<\/p>\n For Southwest Florida basketball fans, the championship series featured familiar faces who helped build one of the region’s most successful college basketball programs.<\/p>\n From Fort Myers to the WNBA Finals<\/p>\n Before leading Atlanta,\u00a0Smesko<\/a> spent more than two decades building FGCU’s women’s basketball program, beginning with the Eagles’ inaugural season in 2002.<\/p>\n During his tenure, FGCU became a perennial conference contender, earning regular NCAA Tournament appearances and national recognition for its success.<\/p>\n Smesko left FGCU in November 2024 to become head coach of the Atlanta Dream, bringing his offensive philosophy and experience developing college players to the professional level.<\/p>\n He was later reunited with two former FGCU coaches.<\/p>\n According to the Atlanta Dream, Lyles and Brown joined Smesko’s staff in March 2025 after working alongside him in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n Lyles spent 16 years at FGCU as a player and coach before succeeding Smesko as head coach for the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n In her lone season leading the Eagles, Lyles guided FGCU to a 30-3 record, including an undefeated 18-0 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Eagles won the conference tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.<\/p>\n Lyles was named ASUN Coach of the Year<\/a> before departing for Atlanta.<\/p>\n Brown joined FGCU’s staff in 2022 and helped the program maintain its conference dominance. She worked under Smesko before serving on Lyles’ staff during the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n Together, the three helped establish and continue a winning tradition at FGCU before reuniting in the WNBA.<\/p>\n Golden State wins championship in Game 7<\/p>\n The Valkyries defeated the Dream 68-63 on Saturday, Oct. 31, capturing their first WNBA championship in just their second season as a franchise.<\/p>\n Golden State guard Gabby Williams<\/a> scored 30 points, including 28 in the second half, and was named WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player.<\/p>\n Atlanta entered halftime with a 30-24 advantage and extended its lead to nine points during the third quarter.<\/p>\n However, Williams sparked Golden State’s comeback, scoring 15 points in the third quarter as the Valkyries took control of the game.<\/p>\n The teams were tied at 55 late in the fourth quarter before Williams connected on a long 3-pointer that gave Golden State a lead it would not surrender.<\/p>\n Veronica Burton<\/a> sealed the championship with two free throws in the closing seconds.<\/p>\n Jordin Canada<\/a> led Atlanta with 18 points, while Allisha Gray<\/a> added 16.<\/p>\n The Dream struggled offensively, shooting 33.3% from the field and making just six of their 30 attempts from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n The victory made Golden State the first WNBA expansion franchise to capture a championship in its second season.<\/p>\n A seven-game battle for the championship<\/p>\n The Finals featured several momentum swings between the two teams.<\/p>\n Golden State opened the series with a 68-64 victory, but Atlanta responded by winning Games 2 and 3, including a dominant 97-71 performance in Game 3.<\/p>\n Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom announced on social media that he plans to attend Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in Atlanta on Wednesday as a fan. Freedom last was at a WNBA game in late August when he went to see Chicago host Indiana. He was ejected from the game and banned from the arena for getting into a heated interaction with Sky guard Natasha Cloud. The league declined to comment on Freedom potentially attending the Finals.<\/p>\n The Valkyries answered with consecutive victories in Games 4 and 5, putting themselves one win away from the championship.<\/p>\n With its season on the line, Atlanta forced a decisive Game 7 by defeating Golden State 80-69 on Thursday, Oct. 29.<\/p>\n Gray led the Dream with 23 points in that victory, while Rhyne Howard contributed 21. Angel Reese<\/a> recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds.<\/p>\n However, Golden State recovered from the loss and captured the championship in the winner-take-all finale.<\/p>\n Atlanta overcomes midseason struggles<\/p>\n The Dream’s appearance in the Finals capped a season that included both significant challenges and impressive stretches of success.<\/p>\n Atlanta finished the 2026 regular season with a 30-14 record, matching the franchise’s record for wins in a season.<\/p>\n The Dream encountered adversity during the summer, including a five-game losing streak that ended July 9 with an 89-78 victory over the Seattle Storm.<\/p>\n Reese recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds to right the ship, while Gray contributed 20 points and five assists. Howard added 19 points and four steals.<\/p>\n Atlanta eventually found its rhythm, winning nine of its final 10 regular-season games to secure the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.<\/p>\n Gray, Howard and Reese provided much of the team’s firepower throughout the season, while Canada helped quarterback the offense.<\/p>\n According to WNBA Stats, the trio of Gray, Howard and Reese combined to average 53.1 points per game during the regular season.<\/p>\n Reese led the league in rebounds, while Howard led the league in steals.<\/p>\n Atlanta carried that momentum into the postseason, sweeping the Washington Mystics in the opening round before defeating the New York Liberty in three straight games in the semifinals.<\/p>\n The Dream entered the Finals having won all five of their playoff games.<\/p>\n Golden State’s historic second season<\/p>\n The Valkyries followed their successful inaugural 2025 season with an even stronger performance in 2026.<\/p>\n Golden State finished the regular season 32-12, earning the No. 2 seed in the playoffs after improving its win total by nine games from the previous year.<\/p>\n The team’s defense became one of its biggest calling cards, helping the Valkyries overcome an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in points per game.<\/p>\n Williams led Golden State with a franchise-record 560 points during the regular season.<\/p>\n Kiah Stokes<\/a> established franchise records with 248 rebounds and 74 blocks, while Burton recorded 69 steals.<\/p>\n The Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings in three games in the opening round before sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals.<\/p>\n Williams continued her strong play throughout the postseason, averaging 19.6 points and 2.6 steals in the Finals.<\/p>\n Stokes also played a significant role defensively, finishing the championship series with a record 18 blocked shots.<\/p>\n Under head coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State completed a 9-4 postseason run to claim the franchise’s first championship.<\/p>\n What’s next?<\/p>\n There is a little something for all fans to get excited about.<\/p>\n With the 2026 season in the books, attention turns to a promising new generation of WNBA talent. USC standout JuJu Watkins<\/a>, Texas forward Madison Booker<\/a> and Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo<\/a> are among the early favorites to hear their names called in the 2027 WNBA Draft.<\/p>\n For either team in the finals, these treasures are likely out of reach. Golden State currently holds the projected No. 14 overall selection, while Atlanta traded its first-round pick to Chicago in April to acquire Angel Reese, a major addition who helped fuel the Dream’s championship run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"FORT MYERS, Fla. 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