Sharp-shooting Dream beat Valkyries 80-69 to force Game 7 in WNBA Finals

What the report says

The Atlanta Dream forced a deciding Game 7 in the WNBA Finals with an 80-69 win over the visiting Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on Reuters. The victory extended the series and set up the league’s first-ever Finals Game 7 under the expanded format introduced ahead of the 2025 season. The winner will be crowned champion in San Francisco on Saturday night.

Atlanta, seeded fourth, controlled the game from the opening minutes and never trailed after the first minute. Allisha Gray led the Dream with 23 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21. Angel Reese contributed 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Jordin Canada scored 10. The Dream made 13 three-pointers and built a 32-15 first-quarter lead before taking a 46-26 advantage into halftime.

Golden State, the second seed and still a newer franchise in just its second season, was led by Gabby Williams with 26 points and Tiffany Hayes with 15. The Valkyries cut into the deficit in the second half but could not fully recover from their slow start, and they finished with only seven made three-pointers. Head coach Natalie Nakase said the team would review the game and look for answers after the loss.

The article also noted the unusual afternoon start time, shifted to avoid a conflict with the Atlanta Hawks’ home game that evening, and described the crowd at State Farm Arena as a major factor in Atlanta’s biggest win to date.