Sometimes a series turns on a single afternoon, when a team that had gone quiet in two losses remembers how to find the basket and the other side is left chasing shadows. The Atlanta Dream did that in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, beating the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 and tying the best-of-seven series at three games apiece. Neither franchise has ever won a championship, so the rematch in San Francisco on Saturday carries the weight of a first chapter for one of them.
Dream Even WNBA Finals at 3-3 with 80-69 Game 6 Win Over Valkyries
22 points took a half in Game 5. In Game 6, it took 6:30.
Mark
Atlanta was down 2-... actually, what changed between Game 5 and Game 6?
Mimi
The shooting. They scored 22 in the first half of Game 5, then matched that in the first 6:30 of Game 6. They went 6 of 8 from three in the first quarter.
Mark
And Golden State?
Luke
The report says they shot 9 of 34 in the first half and attributes it to Atlanta's defense. That's the stated cause, though a cold night could be part of it too.
Mimi
The 13-0 run in the first quarter is what broke it open. The lead hit 25 at its biggest.
Mark
But Golden State nearly climbed back.
Mimi
Not nearly. They got to 77-69, which looks closer than the game felt. Gray's late three ended it.
Luke
Fair, though 77-66 with under two minutes left is a margin, not a scare. I'd be careful about calling it a near-comeback.
Mark
What about Tiffany Hayes?
Luke
Fifth foul with 5:01 left, and she left slowly after a trainer looked at her. That's all we know. Nothing in the report says she's hurt or out for Saturday.
Mimi
Which is why it's the thing to watch heading into Game 7.
Il Polso
- Atlanta scored 22 points in the first 6:30 after two lowest-scoring losses had left its Finals hopes sagging.
- Six three-pointers in the first quarter built a 32-15 lead that Golden State never fully erased.
- Golden State shot just 9 of 34 in the first half and watched a 25-point hole open under relentless Dream defense.
- A flagrant foul on Rhyne Howard and Tiffany Hayes' fifth foul added physical friction to a game already tilting toward heat.
- Late Valkyries surge cut the margin to 77-69, but Allisha Gray's closing three sealed it and set up a decisive Game 7 on Saturday.
Sometimes a series turns on a single afternoon, when a team that had gone quiet in two losses remembers how to find the basket and the other side is left chasing shadows. The Atlanta Dream did that in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, beating the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 and tying the best-of-seven series at three games apiece. Neither franchise has ever won a championship, so the rematch in San Francisco on Saturday carries the weight of a first chapter for one of them.
Atlanta had managed only 22 points in the entire first half of Game 5, and the Dream's offense had looked stuck in the mud through two losses. On Thursday in Game 6, they reached 22 points in the first 6:30. That single change of rhythm is the story of the afternoon, and it is why the WNBA Finals now stand tied at 3-3.
Atlanta arrived needing a win badly. Allisha Gray scored 23 and Rhyne Howard added 21, while Angel Reese posted 15 points and 13 rebounds. The early work came from beyond the arc: the Dream hit six of eight threes in the first quarter and rode a 13-0 run to a 32-15 lead. By halftime the margin was 46-26, because Golden State made just 9 of 34 shots while searching for open looks against a defense that refused to give them room.
The third quarter brought friction. Veronica Burton was called for a flagrant foul after contact with Howard's face on a drive, and Kaila Charles cut the lead to 16 before Atlanta's answer came. Golden State kept pushing, pulling within 13 and then within 11 late, with Gabby Williams's three-point play making it 77-69. Gray's closing three ended the threat.
The Valkyries also lost Tiffany Hayes to a fifth foul and a slow walk off the court after a trainer's attention. Her availability will shape the stakes of Saturday's Game 7 at Chase Center, where one of two franchise seeking its first title will finally get it.
Atlanta had 22 points in the entire first half of Game 5. In Game 6 on Thursday, the Dream got to 22 in the first 6:30. That was the shape of the afternoon, and it is why the WNBA Finals are now tied at 3-3.
The Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69, and the series will be settled Saturday night in Game 7 at Chase Center. Neither franchise has won a WNBA championship, so one of them will get its first.
Atlanta arrived needing a win after the two lowest-scoring games of the Finals, both losses, in Games 4 and 5. Game 5 ended 65-55 for Golden State. Allisha Gray answered with 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21. Angel Reese had a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 26 points, and Tiffany Hayes scored 15.
Much of the early damage came from beyond the arc. Atlanta hit 6 of 8 three-pointers and 11 of 15 shots overall in the first quarter, building a 32-15 lead. After a 6-5 game, the Dream went on a 13-0 run that included two threes from Jordin Canada. Reese added a corner three in the second period. Entering the game, Atlanta was 15-0 when Reese made at least one three.
By halftime the lead was 46-26. Golden State made only 9 of 34 shots in the half, frequently unable to find open looks against the Dream's smothering defense.
Howard opened the second half with another three. Midway through the third quarter, Valkyries guard Veronica Burton was called for a flagrant foul after an officials' review found she made an unnecessary windup and contact with Howard's face while Howard drove to the basket. Kaila Charles closed the quarter with a three that cut the lead to 16, 63-47, the smallest Atlanta margin since the opening 13-0 run. Atlanta's largest lead was 25.
Golden State kept coming. The Valkyries pulled within 13 at 68-55, but Gray and Reese each hit threes to push it back to 74-55. In the closing minutes Laeticia Amihere's two free throws made it 77-66 with 1:57 left, and a three-point play by Williams cut it to 77-69. Gray then hit a crucial three for Atlanta to seal it.
There was a physical note too. Hayes picked up her fifth foul on a loose-ball collision with 5:01 remaining and left the court slowly after a trainer attended to her. Her status and availability will matter for Saturday.
Off the court, the Dream announced a sellout on Wednesday, despite the heavily criticized 12:30 p.m. ET tipoff and concerns that work and school would thin the crowd. Only scattered seats in the upper level sat empty.
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