Atlanta Dream Defeat Golden State Valkyries in WNBA Finals Game 3

The Atlanta Dream took a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night, defeating the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in a dominant performance at State Farm Arena. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,608 fans, the Dream moved two wins away from capturing the first WNBA championship in franchise history.

Angel Reese led the charge for Atlanta with 21 points and 12 rebounds, marking her third consecutive double-double of the series. With this performance, Reese became the youngest player in league history to achieve three straight double-doubles during a WNBA Finals. She also joined A'ja Wilson as the only players to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive finals games.

The game featured a vibrant atmosphere with numerous celebrities courtside, including Kerry Washington, Ludacris, Cam Newton, Quavo, and T.I. The home crowd created an intimidating environment for Golden State, wearing matching sky-blue T-shirts, waving rally towels, and generating enough noise to overwhelm the venue. Reese praised the supporters for showing up in full force on a weeknight.

"Atlanta, y'all came out. And on a Wednesday, on a school night, they got work tomorrow. Like, I appreciate y'all for coming out and supporting us and being loud on every single possession," Reese said after the game. She also expressed excitement for the upcoming Game 4, telling fans to return on Saturday since they do not work on Sunday.

Atlanta controlled the tempo early, holding the Valkyries scoreless for the first five minutes of the contest. Although Golden State managed to cut the deficit and briefly tie the game at 48-48 in the third quarter thanks to strong three-point shooting from Cecilia Zandalasini and Gabby Williams, the Dream quickly regained momentum. Four other Atlanta players joined Reese in double-digit scoring as the team shot 49.3% from the field.

Defensively, Rhyne Howard made history by becoming the first player to record five or more steals in consecutive finals games. The Dream stifled the Valkyries' starting lineup, limiting Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton, and Kayla Thornton to a combined five points on 2-of-11 shooting from the floor. Despite a strong effort from the Golden State bench, which outscored Atlanta's reserves 38-27, the overwhelming defense and transition scoring proved too much to overcome.

The WNBA Finals matchup at State Farm Arena was made possible through a combined effort by the teams, the league, and the arena, avoiding a potential relocation to a smaller venue due to scheduling conflicts with the Atlanta Hawks and a concert. The large downtown arena provided a fitting stage for the high-stakes series.

The Dream will look to extend their series advantage when they host Game 4 on Saturday at State Farm Arena, aiming to move one step closer to the championship title.