Valkyries defeat Dream 64-55 to take 3-2 lead in Finals

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night at Chase Center, taking a 3-2 series lead in the WNBA Finals. With a win in hand, Golden State is now one victory away from capturing the championship in its second season.

Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton anchored the defensive effort for the Valkyries. Stokes finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Burton matched the scoring with 13 points and eight rebounds while adding four blocked shots. Their presence on the interior helped limit the Dream to 55 points.

Coach Natalie Nakase kept her starting lineup from Saturday’s Game 4 victory, featuring Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles. Hayes, a former Atlanta player who returned from retirement, scored 12 points. Nakase has stated she wants to win the title for the veteran guard, and the team’s depth proved essential in the late stages of the game.

The Valkyries relied on a balanced attack after their star scorer, Gabby Williams, struggled with her shot. Williams went 3-for-14 from the field, including 0-for-4 from three-point range, but finished with nine points and six rebounds. A three-point play by Williams with 9:08 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Golden State a 49-42 lead that would hold.

Angel Reese, the Dream’s leading player, recorded 15 rebounds and five assists but scored only seven points. She was whistled for her third offensive foul with 7:43 left in the game. Reese expressed confidence in her team, stating, “I still believe in our team, I still believe we can win this.”

The first half was a defensive struggle, with the teams combining for just 47 points. That total marks the lowest combined score for a first half in WNBA Finals history. Golden State led 25-22 at the break before pulling away in the second half. The Valkyries forced 17 turnovers from Atlanta, which resulted in 21 points for Golden State.

Stokes hit two key three-pointers in the final quarters, drawing loud cheers from the 18,000 fans at Chase Center. She has now recorded at least three blocks in six consecutive postseason games, tying Lisa Leslie’s 2003 record for the longest such streak in a single WNBA postseason. Burton’s four blocks tied Diana Taurasi’s 2009 record for most blocks by a guard in a Finals game.

The Dream will host Game 6 on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. A win for Atlanta would force a Game 7 back in San Francisco on Saturday. Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the short turnaround and the midday start time, hoping as many fans as possible can watch the game.