Valkyries coach Nakase seeks urgency before WNBA Finals Game 7

Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase left the court in confusion after her team dropped 80-69 to the Atlanta Dream on Thursday. The loss forced a Game 7 in the first best-of-seven WNBA Finals in league history. The decisive game is scheduled for Saturday night in San Francisco. Both teams are chasing their first championship.

The Dream established control immediately. They shot 73.3% from the field in the first quarter to build a 32-15 lead. That 32-point total is the highest single-quarter score by either team in the series. Atlanta maintained double-digit advantages for most of the remainder of the contest.

Nakase expressed frustration that her players lacked the intensity shown in the 64-55 Game 5 victory. She plans to hold talks with her roster during the flight back to California. Nakase said she needs clarity on what went wrong and how to prepare for the final game. She admitted the team knew the Dream would play with desperation, yet they failed to match that energy.

"Can't let that happen right out of the gate," Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said. "There needs to be a sense of urgency. It's the WNBA Finals."

Atlanta Allisha Gray led the Dream with 23 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21. Angel Reese recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds. Golden State only led 2-0 at one point in the entire game. Tiffany Hayes picked up her fifth foul in a collision with 5:01 remaining. She was helped to the sideline by a trainer but later walked off under her own power. Nakase said Hayes looked fine after further checks.

The Dream sold out State Farm Arena with 17,099 fans in attendance despite a 12:30 p.m. EDT start time. Many players and coaches criticized the midday slot earlier in the week. Nakase and player Gabby Williams dismissed the early 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time tipoff as a reason for the slow start. Williams noted the Dream played at the same hour, so it could not serve as an excuse.

Reese acknowledged the energy of the home crowd in Atlanta but expects the atmosphere in San Francisco to be even louder for the finale. She said the team must stay poised and together to handle the noise. The Valkyries are in their second season of existence, while the Dream have lost in the Finals in 2010, 2011, and 2013.