The Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive with an 80-69 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday, forcing the first Game 7 in league history. The win came before a sold-out, deafening crowd at State Farm Arena in a rare 12:30 p.m. ET start caused by scheduling conflicts.
Dream rediscover offensive rhythm
After shooting below 35% for much of the series, the Dream erupted for 73.3% from the field and 75% from three-point range in the first quarter, building a lead that reached 25 points before halftime. Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner had predicted the turnaround, telling reporters Wednesday the team would be "crazy to lose confidence" offensively.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with a team-high 23 points, including a crucial early three-pointer that gave the Dream their first lead at 3-2. Gray, playing with a hand injury that left her with eight healthy fingers, added a sealing three-pointer in the final minutes. "My plan was to come out and be aggressive from the jump," Gray said. "The biggest thing was me staying locked in and stepping up to the challenge."
Reese dominates inside, crowd fuels energy
Angel Reese contributed 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, crediting the lunchtime crowd for providing a tangible boost. "First, shout out to the crowd being able to come here at 12:30 on a Thursday," Reese said. "We fed off their energy. They were loud from the beginning." Naz Hillmon added a momentum-shifting three-pointer, and Rhyne Howard delivered an emphatic block on Gabby Williams.
Valkyries rally falls short
Golden State, 40 minutes from a title in just its second season, opened with a 2-0 lead on a Veronica Burton step-back but never led again. The Valkyries outscored Atlanta in the second half and cut the deficit to nine with just over a minute remaining, but Gray's final three-pointer extinguished the comeback.
Game 7 set for Halloween in San Francisco
The decisive Game 7 will take place Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco. "Job's not done," Reese said. "We definitely can be happy about it for now, but we have more work to do. I think we definitely have another level that we can get to." The Dream are seeking the first WNBA championship in franchise history, while the Valkyries aim to capture the title in their sophomore campaign.
