Valkyries defeat Dream in Game 5 to take 3-2 series lead

The Atlanta Dream lost 64-55 to the Minnesota Lynx on Monday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, giving up a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals. The defeat dropped the Dream to .457 in Finals games, making them the first team in league history to go below even in post-season series wins. The final score ended a tight contest where the Lynx controlled the third quarter to pull away from a 31-30 first half.

Shooting percentages were low for both sides, with the Dream shooting 29.2% from the field and 23.1% from three-point range. The game produced only 67 combined points in the first half, a record low for a WNBA Finals contest. Minnesota led 34-25 at the start of the third quarter after a 9-2 run late in the second period. That momentum shift proved decisive as the Lynx extended their advantage through the final minutes.

Rhyne Howard led all scorers with 20 points and 5 rebounds for the Dream. Angel Reese finished with 7 points and 15 rebounds. Lynx forward Napheesa Collier added 18 points, while Courtney Voss contributed 14. The Dream’s offense struggled to generate rhythm, missing multiple open looks in the second quarter. The team relied on inside scoring near the basket as perimeter shots fell short.

Head coach Brandy Howard said the team felt let down by their frontcourt play and defensive positioning. She noted that the team gave up too many easy baskets and failed to protect the rim consistently. Howard emphasized that the group must clean up small details in their decision-making before the next outing. She praised the effort but stressed the need for sharper execution under pressure.

Star guard Napheesa Collier acknowledged the difficulty of the loss but pointed to specific missed shots as the turning point. She said the team gave away a bit of control in the middle of the game. Collier added that the Dream played well enough to stay in it but lacked the finishing touches needed to close it out. She described the experience as a learning opportunity for the roster.

The Dream will return to Atlanta for Game 6 of the best-of-seven series on Thursday. The winner of the remaining games will claim the championship. The team travels home from San Francisco to prepare for the final two opportunities to secure the title.

The loss marked the second consecutive season the Dream have fallen in the Finals after holding a series lead. The franchise now faces the challenge of erasing a two-game deficit on home court. The next game begins at 7:00 p.m. local time at State Farm Arena.