Valkyries Force Elimination Threat on Dream in 64-55 Finals Victory

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night at Chase Center, forcing a Game 6 that could decide the WNBA championship. The win puts Golden State one victory away from its first title in franchise history.

Kiah Stokes led the Valkyries with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Veronica Burton matched the scoring total and added eight rebounds and four blocked shots. The duo controlled the interior and disrupted Atlanta’s rhythm throughout the contest.

Stokes recorded her third consecutive game with at least three blocks, tying a record for the longest such streak in a single postseason set by Lisa Leslie in 2003. Burton’s four blocks also tied Diana Taurasi’s 2009 mark for most by a guard in a Finals game.

Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Her production was lower than in the first two games of the series. She shook her head after drawing her second offensive foul with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Gabby Williams struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-14 for nine points. She missed all four of her three-point attempts but made a three-point play with 9:08 left in the third quarter to extend the lead. The Valkyries’ defense generated 21 points off Atlanta’s 17 turnovers.

Coach Natalie Nakase kept Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles in the starting lineup, a change introduced in Game 4. Hayes, who played ten seasons for Atlanta before returning from retirement two years ago, scored 12 points. Nakase has stated her goal is to win the title for the veteran guard.

The teams combined for 5 of 29 three-pointers in the first half, the lowest combined first-half scoring in WNBA Finals history. Golden State led 25-22 at the break and took control in the second half. Stokes hit two three-pointers in the fourth quarter to quiet the Atlanta bench.

Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. A win by the Dream would force a Game 7 in San Francisco on Saturday. Dream coach Karl Smesko said he hopes for a national holiday for championship games so more fans can watch, but acknowledged that many viewers have jobs during the midday slot.

Golden State owner Joe Lacob promised a championship within five years of the franchise’s launch three years ago. The current run has exceeded that timeline. Stokes said the crowd of 18,000 at Chase Center made her feel appreciated as they chanted her name after she hit key shots.