Valkyries clinch title or Dream stay alive? Previewing Game 6 of the WNBA Finals — SkimNews
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- Golden State Valkyries won Games 4 and 5 to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead; a Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET win at State Farm Arena would claim the WNBA title in their second season, while an Atlanta win forces a Halloween Game 7 in San Francisco.
- Natalie Nakase changed the starting lineup after Game 3, starting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes while using Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini off the bench, and shortened the rotation from nine or 10 players to roughly seven; the moves produced better starts and restored Golden State’s defensive identity.
- Atlanta Dream averaged 17.5 turnovers that produced 18.5 Valkyries points in Games 4 and 5, while Golden State averaged nine turnovers for seven points after previously committing 18 and yielding 23 Atlanta points.
- Angel Reese scored eight points on 2-of-12 shooting in Game 4 and seven on 2-of-8 in Game 5, compared with averages of 25.5 points and 14 rebounds during Atlanta’s two earlier wins.
- Allisha Gray has averaged 13.9 points on 34.4% shooting in eight playoff games, down from 19.0 points and 46.2% in the regular season, with her hand injury identified as a factor in Atlanta’s reduced effectiveness.
- Atlanta Dream ranked third in regular-season scoring at 91.3 points per game, but its offense has averaged 31 fewer points in three Finals losses than its regular-season pace; guards Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada have series averages of 14.4, 12.0 and 10.6 points, respectively.
Why it matters: Allisha Gray has dropped from 19.0 regular-season points to 13.9 in the playoffs, while Atlanta’s offense has averaged 31 fewer points in three Finals losses. Golden State, the WNBA’s No. 14-ranked scoring team, is used to winning low-scoring games, leaving the Dream needing Gray and their guards to restore production to reach Game 7.
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