Valkyries Force Game 6 After 64-55 Win

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night to force a Game 6 in the WNBA Finals. The victory at Chase Center places Golden State one win away from their first championship in the franchise's second season. The team relied on aggressive interior defense to limit Atlanta's scoring opportunities throughout the second half.

Kiah Stokes posted 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Veronica Burton matched her scoring with 13 points and added eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Burton's four blocks tie the single-game Finals record for a guard, a mark previously set by Diana Taurasi in 2009. Stokes has now recorded at least three blocks in six consecutive postseason games, tying Lisa Leslie's record from 2003.

Burton credited Stokes for the team's consistency during the run. “We’re not here without Kiah,” Burton said. “Every single day, every single game, from the beginning. Just her veteran experience as well. It's more than just defense.”

Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. She committed three offensive fouls, including one with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. “I still believe in our team, I still believe we can win this,” Reese said after the final buzzer.

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase kept Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles in the starting lineup, a change she made for the Game 4 win on Saturday. Hayes, who played 10 seasons for Atlanta before returning to the league two years ago, scored 12 points. Lead scorer Gabby Williams struggled from the field, shooting 3-for-14, but hit a three-point play with 9:08 left to extend the lead to 49-42.

The combined first-half score of 47 points was the lowest in WNBA Finals history. Both teams shot poorly from beyond the arc, with Golden State making 3 of 16 attempts and Atlanta making 2 of 13. The Valkyries dominated the second half after leading 25-22 at the break. Atlanta's 17 turnovers led to 21 points for Golden State.

The Dream will host Game 6 at State Farm Arena on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT. A win for Atlanta would force a Game 7 back in San Francisco on Saturday. Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the difficulty of the early afternoon start for working fans. “Nothing’s changed, we win two games we’re champions,” Smesko said.