Atlanta Dream prepare for decisive WNBA Finals game in San Francisco

The Atlanta Dream will face the Golden State Valkyries Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. This contest marks the first winner-take-all Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Both franchises are chasing their first league championship.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. The Dream secured the right to play for the title by winning Game 6 on Thursday afternoon. They defeated the Valkyries 80-69 to stay alive in the series.

Atlanta established a large lead early in the final regular-season game. The team shot 73.3 percent from the field in the first quarter. That performance produced a 32-15 advantage, which remains the highest-scoring quarter by either team in this series. The Dream maintained a double-digit lead for the majority of the contest.

A sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena supported the team during the midday game. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens had issued a citywide excuse note for employers and educators. This allowed fans to attend the game despite the early start time. The celebration moved onto downtown streets after the final buzzer, accompanied by live marching bands. Fans chanted "Dream in 7" as the team departed.

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase expressed confusion over her team's defensive effort in the first quarter of Game 6. She stated that the Valkyries must match Atlanta's urgent pace from the opening tip to win on their home floor. Neither coaching staff has announced changes to starting lineups or rotations heading into pregame warmups.

Angel Reese credited the fan energy for fueling the team's momentum during Thursday's victory. She noted the difficulty of a 12:30 p.m. start on a weekday but emphasized the importance of maximizing the opportunity. Reese said, "It's win or go home right now, and I think everybody left everything they had out there and that was what was important to us."

The Atlanta Dream has released a list of official watch party locations for local residents. City officials have not yet published celebration plans for the event should the Dream win the title in California.