Dream fall to Valkyries in Game 7

The Atlanta Dream lost 68-63 to the Minnesota Valkyries on Saturday in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. The result ended the Dream's season and their attempt to bring a championship to Atlanta.

The Dream shot 21 of 31 from the field in the final quarter. They also went 8 of 3 from three-point range during that stretch. Despite the hot shooting, the Valkyries held a 7-0 lead at one point in the fourth period. The Dream attempted to close the gap but could not overcome the deficit.

Head coach Karl Smesko addressed the team after the final buzzer. He told the players that the season was remarkable. "I love our team," Smesko said. "I'm proud of our players, the season they have had is remarkable." He added that while the outcome was frustrating, it did not change his feelings about the squad.

Smesko noted that the players gave everything they had. He said, "It's really a testament to how much we wanted to do it." The coach acknowledged that the team left a little something on the court. However, he emphasized that the group is proud of the effort. "We really love this team," he said. "I'm proud of what we did." He confirmed that the players are ready to move on.

The Dream have now lost three consecutive Game 7s. The previous losses occurred in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The team finished the regular season with a 29-7 record. They entered the playoffs as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The Dream advanced to the Finals by defeating the New York Liberty in the conference semifinals. They then beat the Indiana Fever in the conference finals to reach the championship round.

The Valkyries secured their first WNBA title with the victory. The Dream will return to the offseason and prepare for the 2027 season. Smesko said the team will regroup in the coming days. "We're going to keep going," he said. "We're going to get better and come back." The players plan to rest before starting individual workouts.

The final score was 68-63. The Valkyries outscored the Dream 29-18 in the third quarter. The Dream led 51-45 entering the final period. A late run by Minnesota sealed the win. The game was played at the Dream's home arena in Atlanta. Fans filled the seats for the decisive matchup.