Dream Defeat Valkyries 80-69 to Force WNBA Finals Game 7

The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon to force a decisive Game 7 in the WNBA Finals. The league, now in the second year of its expanded Finals format, is set to host its first-ever Game 7 with a first-time champion guaranteed.

Played as a Thursday matinee at State Farm Arena to accommodate an Atlanta Hawks home game, the matchup drew a packed crowd. The fourth-seeded Dream never trailed after the opening minute, building a 32-15 lead by the end of the first quarter and taking a 46-26 advantage into halftime.

Standout Performances and Matchup Statistics

• Atlanta Dream: Allisha Gray led with 23 points, including five 3-pointers, despite a postseason hand injury. Rhyne Howard added 21 points, Angel Reese contributed 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists, and Jordin Canada scored 10 points. Atlanta connected on 13 three-pointers overall.
• Golden State Valkyries: Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26 points, while Tiffany Hayes added 15 points. The second-year franchise struggled from deep, making just 7 of 27 attempts from beyond the arc (25.9 percent), and fell behind early after a slow start.

Post-Game Reactions and Upcoming Schedule

• Karl Smesko (Atlanta Head Coach): Emphasized team readiness and preparation for the final game, noting the prevailing mentality that the job is not yet finished.
• Natalie Nakase (Golden State Head Coach): Described the poor first-quarter start as unacceptable and stated plans to review film before the upcoming flight home.

Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Fans can verify official league schedules and broadcast details through the official WNBA website or authorized sports news networks.