Dream, Valkyries Sweep Into WNBA Finals — SkimNews
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- Golden State Valkyries upset defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77, dominating overtime 16-6 while five-time MVP A'ja Wilson went scoreless on just one field goal attempt in the extra period.
- Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton scored all of Golden State's overtime points; Williams and Hayes finished with 16 and 11 points respectively, with Thornton adding 18.
- Atlanta Dream held off the New York Liberty 85-83 behind Angel Reese's 22 points and Jordin Canada's 19-point, 11-assist double-double, sealing their first Finals appearance since 2013.
- The Dream's sweep was accomplished with just 11 minutes from top scorer Allisha Gray; Atlanta has not lost since the FIBA break, carrying a 10-game winning streak into the Finals.
- The Valkyries are the first WNBA expansion franchise to reach the Finals in their first two seasons, doing so by sweeping Wilson and the defending champion Aces in the semifinals.
Why it matters: Both sweeps guarantee a first-time WNBA champion will be crowned, knocking out the defending champion Aces and a Liberty franchise built around Breanna Stewart. Golden State's second-year Finals run is unprecedented for an expansion franchise, while the Dream haven't reached this stage in 12 years and have never won a title — making every Finals game a franchise-defining moment for both clubs.
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