ATLANTA — The Atlanta Dream fought to keep their season alive on Thursday afternoon, building a double-digit lead over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena.
Golden State entered the midday clash holding a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, standing just one win away from clinching the franchise’s first WNBA championship in only its second year of existence, ESPN reported. The Dream, facing elimination after dropping consecutive games, needed a victory on their home court to push the series to a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Unusual start for a championship bout
The high-stakes elimination game tipped off under rare circumstances at 12:30 p.m. ET on Thursday. The contest had been relocated from Gateway Center, Atlanta’s primary home venue during the regular season, to the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, according to The Sporting News. The daytime schedule was arranged because the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks were slated to play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the same building on Thursday evening, the New York Post reported.
Despite the weekday afternoon slot, crowds filled the arena to back the Dream, who have reached the Finals three times before but were swept in each appearance, according to Yahoo Sports.
The Valkyries seized control of the series earlier in the week behind stout defense, holding Atlanta star Angel Reese to eight points in Game 4 and seven points in Game 5. Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton each posted 13 points and eight rebounds, combining for seven blocked shots in Golden State’s 64-55 victory on Monday in San Francisco, Yahoo Sports reported.
Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase warned after Game 5 that closing out the series on the road would require complete focus.
“That’s going to be a very ruthless Atlanta team that wants it just as much. You can never count them out,” Nakase said, according to the New York Post.
Atlanta surges from distance
Atlanta responded immediately to the pressure of elimination on Thursday. Head coach Karl Smesko’s squad ignited the crowd with a rapid 13-0 run in the opening quarter, knocking down six 3-pointers across the first eight minutes to establish a 17-point cushion, The Sporting News reported in live updates.
Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon provided early scoring punches, while Rhyne Howard found her perimeter rhythm, burying four 3-pointers on her way to 16 points. Atlanta’s lead expanded to as much as 25 points during the second quarter as the Valkyries struggled to convert near the rim, missing six layups early while All-Star Gabby Williams shot 2-of-11 from the field, according to The Sporting News.
Reese snapped a lengthy scoring drought in the first half with a three-point play against Stokes and later drilled a 3-pointer from deep. Golden State mounted a late push in the second half, leaning on back-to-back 3-pointers from Kaila Charles to cut the deficit to 16 by the end of the third quarter and later pulling within 13 points midway through the fourth frame.
However, Gray answered with her own long-range shot to reach 17 points, and Reese followed with another 3-pointer over Stokes to preserve Atlanta’s double-digit cushion late in the fourth quarter, The Sporting News reported.
If the Dream maintain their lead and secure the Game 6 victory, the Finals will return to California for Game 7 on Saturday to decide the champion.
