Atlanta Dream Force Game 7 in WNBA Finals With Win Over Golden State

The WNBA Finals are headed to a decisive Game 7 on Saturday night after the Atlanta Dream secured an 80-69 victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Played in front of a loud, sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena, the matchup forced the first-ever Game 7 in the history of the WNBA Finals.

Atlanta controlled the tempo from the opening tip, establishing the largest first-quarter lead in WNBA Finals history by building a 17-point advantage after shooting 11 of 15 from the field. The Dream continued to pull away in the second quarter, leading by as many as 25 points before taking a 46-26 lead into halftime.

Allisha Gray led the charge for Atlanta with 23 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the final minute that sealed the victory. Rhyne Howard also contributed 23 points, while Angel Reese recorded another double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.

“Every time we threw the first punch, we won the game,” Reese told USA Network after the win. “Just being able to set the tone early. I mean, we didn’t have everybody come out at 12:30 p.m. for no reason. We appreciate the fans’ support on a weekday. They came out and supported us every single day, every single game. So, we wanted to make sure we ended this right here.”

Despite trailing by 20 at halftime, the Valkyries mounted a furious rally in the second half. Golden State capitalized on a physical third quarter and chipped away at the deficit, cutting Atlanta's lead to 12 points late in the fourth quarter. However, clutch 3-pointers from Gray and Reese helped the Dream fend off the comeback attempt.

The decisive Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Looking ahead to the championship finale on the road, Reese emphasized the need for focus.

“We needed the opportunity. That’s all we needed and we maximized it today. I’m just really proud of this group. The job is not done,” Reese stated.