ATLANTA — Facing elimination on their home floor, the Atlanta Dream dismantled the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon to force the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
Playing before a sellout crowd at State Farm Arena, the Dream seized control immediately and built an early lead that grew to as many as 25 points, The Athletic reported. The victory sends the series back to the Bay Area for a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday night, with both franchises pursuing their first league championship.
Dominant start sets the tone
Atlanta established command with a blistering first quarter, putting up 32 points behind perimeter shooting and stout interior play, according to SB Nation. The Valkyries, who entered the afternoon allowing an WNBA-best 75.1 points per contest, surrendered wide-open perimeter looks as defenders collapsed inside on Dream forward Angel Reese.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 23 points, shooting 5-for-7 from beyond the arc, while Rhyne Howard contributed 21 points on 54 percent shooting from the field. Reese recorded a double-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, according to game statistics reported by The Athletic.
“The job is not done,” Reese said, as quoted by The Athletic. “We can be happy about it for now, but we have more work to do. We have another level that we can get to.”
Golden State struggled to discover any offensive rhythm against the Dream’s defense, converting just 31 percent of its shots from the field and 26 percent from 3-point distance, The Athletic reported. Forward Gabby Williams paced the Valkyries with 26 points, while Tiffany Hayes added 16 points, according to SB Nation.
“They did a good job of setting the tone early,” Williams said, per The Athletic. “We didn’t. It’s something to learn from. What’s great is we have another chance.”
Pace and perimeter control
The Dream carried a 20-point cushion into halftime and maintained a comfortable margin for most of the second half. Atlanta connected on 13 3-pointers during the contest. The team improved to 16-0 this year in games where Reese makes at least one 3-pointer after she made two Thursday, including a fourth-quarter shot from distance, The Athletic reported.
Although Golden State mounted a late fourth-quarter surge to pull within eight points with 1:15 remaining, Gray drained a corner 3-pointer to halt the run and secure the win, SB Nation reported.
Dream head coach Karl Smesko emphasized that dictating tempo remains crucial heading into the finale. “If the game is at their pace, they have an advantage. If it’s at our pace, we have the advantage,” Smesko said, via The Athletic. “So we have to be locked in to the way we play.”
Championship decider ahead
The WNBA adopted a best-of-seven championship series model last season, when the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in four games, USA TODAY Sports reported. While previous formats featured winner-take-all Game 3s or Game 5s, Saturday’s contest marks the league’s inaugural Game 7 during its 30th season.
Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. EDT at Chase Center in San Francisco, where the Valkyries will host the Dream to determine the 2026 champion, according to the Associated Press.
