Reese Double-Double Fuels Dream's 97-71 Game 3 Rout — SkimNews
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- Angel Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds in the 97-71 Game 3 win, becoming the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record three straight double-doubles and joining A'ja Wilson as the only players with 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games.
- The Atlanta Dream shot a series-high 49.3% from the field, knocked down nine three-pointers, and played before a sold-out crowd of 17,099 at State Farm Arena to seize a 2-1 Finals lead.
- Rhyne Howard added 16 points, four assists, and four rebounds while becoming the first player in WNBA history to record five steals in consecutive Finals games.
- The Golden State Valkyries committed 17 turnovers that Atlanta converted into 22 points and shot just 34.8% from the floor, with Gabby Williams (15) and Cecilia Zandalasini and Janelle Salaun (13 each) leading the offense.
- Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said afterward that her team "wanted it more than us" and called the turnovers "undisciplined" and "uncharacteristic" after Golden State also had 18 turnovers in the Game 2 loss.
- Naz Hillmon scored 15, DeWanna Bonner added 12 off the bench, and Jordin Canada finished with 10 points, eight assists, and six rebounds to give the Dream balance beyond Reese.
Why it matters: Atlanta is now two wins from its first WNBA title in franchise history, and the series shifts back to a building where it just won by 26. The Valkyries' 35 combined turnovers over the last two games have flipped a competitive Finals into a ball-security crisis, and Nakase's postgame concession that her team was out-hungrier is a warning sign Golden State must reverse before Game 4.
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