Valkyries Beat Dream 64-55 to Take 3-2 WNBA Finals Lead

San Francisco, CA. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night at Chase Center. The victory gives Golden State a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals. The series winner will claim the first championship in franchise history.

The Valkyries need one more win to close out the series. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 p.m. Eastern time. The game will be played at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. If the series goes to a final game, it will be held in Golden State on October 31.

Golden State players spread the scoring load in the win. Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton each recorded 13 points. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini added 12 points apiece. For Atlanta, Rhyne Howard led the team with 20 points. Allisha Gray finished with 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Dream struggled with ball security throughout the game. They committed seven turnovers in the fourth quarter alone. Atlanta managed only two field goals in that final period. The team shot 15 percent from the three-point line, making three of 20 attempts. Howard and Gray accounted for two of those long-range makes, with one by Howard.

Momentum shifted in the third quarter in favor of the Valkyries. Golden State built a 32-24 lead at the 7:27 mark. That was the largest margin of victory in the game. Stokes hit a three-pointer during the run, and Kaila Charles and Hayes also scored baskets. The Dream had held the lead for only one minute in the first two quarters.

The second quarter featured low scoring for both teams. The Dream made just three of 15 field goal attempts in the half. Both teams secured 24 rebounds, but Atlanta had the edge on the offensive glass. The Dream recorded 10 second-chance points from six offensive boards. They trailed 25-22 at halftime.

Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, and Allisha Gray each scored five points in the first half. Coach Karl Smesko used the team's final challenge on a collision between Gray and Tiffany Hayes in the third quarter. The challenge was unsuccessful. Gray recovered and continued playing. The Dream now face a must-win scenario in their home arena this week.