The WNBA had numerous reasons to expand the Finals from five games ahead of the 2025 season. Now in Year 2 of the revamped format, the league will hold its first-ever Game 7 with a first-time champion awaiting on either side. The fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream made sure the series went the distance, leaving no doubt in an 80-69 victory over the visiting second-seeded Golden State Valkyries on Thursday afternoon.
I think our team is ready for it,” Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko said of the winner-take-all game on Saturday night in San Francisco. We expect to go out there and play great.” Allisha Gray, hampered by a hand injury throughout the postseason, scored 23 points on five 3-pointers in a Game 6 that saw the Dream connect on 13 3-pointers while holding Golden State to 26 first-half points. Rhyne Howard added 21 points and Angel Reese posted 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for Atlanta, which didn’t trail after the game’s opening minute.
Jordin Canada chipped in 10 points in a win under unusual circumstances. The game was turned into a matinee by the league, which pushed the start time up to accommodate the Atlanta Hawks’ home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night. Despite the awkward tip time, a packed State Farm Arena saw the biggest win in franchise history — so far.
They were super loud from the beginning.” Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points, while Tiffany Hayes scored 15. Golden State, still in just its second season in the league, made just seven of its 27 3-point attempts (25.9 percent). Williams stopped the bleeding with the Valkyries’ first 3-pointer of the game, but that was answered with consecutive Howard treys to make it 25-8.
Atlanta made six of eight 3-pointers in the first quarter and took a 32-15 lead into the second. Hayes made a triple and reserve Laeticia Amihere closed the first half with a layup to cut Golden State’s halftime deficit to 46-26. The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 21-17 in the third quarter and pulled within 16 on Kaila Charles’ buzzer-beating 3-pointer.
Golden State continued to trim Atlanta’s lead in the fourth, as Williams’ layup made it 68-55 with 6:50 remaining. The Dream then responded with 3-pointers by Gray and Reese to push the lead back to 19. Williams completed a three-point play at the 1:15 mark to pull the Valkyries within eight, but Gray sank her fifth trey on the other end to stamp Atlanta’s pivotal victory.
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