How the Dream's devastating first quarter forced the WNBA Finals to Game 7 — SkimNews
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- Atlanta Dream forced the WNBA Finals into its first Game 7 by defeating Golden State Valkyries 80-69 in Game 6, with the decider set for 8 p.m. ET Saturday at Chase Center.
- Atlanta Dream shot below 40% in four of the previous five series games, then tied a franchise record with six first-quarter 3-pointers to build a 32-15 lead and a 19-5 advantage six minutes in.
- Angel Reese joined Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray in a 59-point combined total and collected 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double in the Finals.
- Atlanta Dream finished with 13 made 3-pointers, tying the WNBA Finals record for most in a game while facing elimination; all three of its series wins came when it topped 70 points.
- Golden State Valkyries are 2-1 at Ballhalla in the best-of-seven series, winning Games 1 and 5 before losing Game 2, and will host Saturday’s decider at Chase Center.
- Golden State Valkyries held the series’ defensive edge by trapping Atlanta and slowing ball movement in Games 1, 4 and 5, but they matched the Dream in rebounding in Game 6 and still could not match Atlanta’s intensity.
- Atlanta Dream carried a 20-point halftime lead after scoring 46 first-half points, then scored 34 in the second half as Golden State played more like itself defensively.
Why it matters: Golden State holds the decisive home edge, sitting 2-1 at home before Saturday’s Game 7, which is now the sole decider for the Valkyries’ title. Atlanta’s three series wins all came with more than 70 points, and it must reach that mark a fourth time after shooting below 40% in four of the previous five games.
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