Karl Smesko’s move from Florida Gulf Coast University to the WNBA has brought him within one series of a championship. In his second season coaching the Atlanta Dream, he has guided the team to the 2026 WNBA Finals, where it will meet the Golden State Valkyries.

Atlanta reached the finals after sweeping its first two opponents in the postseason. It is the franchise’s first finals appearance since 2013. The Dream had previously reached the playoffs under Smesko, but were eliminated in the first round last year.

Smesko had spent years building FGCU into a successful Division I women’s basketball program. The Eagles competed in Division II when he arrived, and later became a nationally prominent team. During his tenure, they recorded eight seasons with at least 30 wins, made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and regularly ranked among the nation’s leaders in 3-pointers made. They did not win a Division I national championship under him.

The Atlanta job came during FGCU’s 2024-25 season. Smesko left after coaching two games, handing the program to longtime assistant Chelsea Lyles. She subsequently led the Eagles to 30 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Lyles later joined Smesko in Atlanta, along with other staff members connected to FGCU.

Smesko said the professional game offered a more realistic chance to compete for a title than he believed was available at FGCU. He described the WNBA as a more equal playing field, which made the opportunity appealing. The finals offer him a chance to pursue the championship he did not win in college, though Atlanta still needs four victories to claim the title.

The opponent will be a difficult one. Golden State, coached by Natalie Nakase, went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season, according to the report. The Valkyries are in only their second year as a franchise, and the finals will be a matchup between second-year head coaches. The only other team to sweep Smesko’s Atlanta club during his tenure was the Las Vegas Aces last season; Las Vegas went on to win the WNBA championship.

Dream star Angel Reese credited Smesko with supporting her development and helping her contribute to the team. Smesko has also said that working with people familiar with his approach, including former FGCU colleagues, has been valuable because they share a different way of thinking about the game.

Game 1 is scheduled for Oct. 17 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The account describes the Valkyries as favored, while noting their regular-season sweep of Atlanta. The finals will determine whether Smesko’s move from a successful college program to the professional level results in the championship opportunity he sought.