Atlanta wins it in the first quarter
Golden State arrived in Atlanta needing one win for a title. It left with a 13-point loss and a Game 7. The Dream beat the Valkyries 80-67 on Thursday in a noon tip that the league moved to 12:30 p.m. local time so the building could host the Hawks that night.
The game was settled almost before the crowd found its seats. Atlanta opened 6-5, then ripped off a 13-0 run to lead 19-5. The Dream hit six of eight threes in the first quarter and went to the second up 32-15. By halftime it was 46-26, and the Valkyries had scored just 26 points in 20 minutes.
Allisha Gray led the way with 23 points and five three-pointers, all while playing through a sore hand. Rhyne Howard added 21. Angel Reese filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and Jordin Canada chipped in 10. As a team Atlanta made 13 threes.
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Golden State cannot find the range
Gabby Williams kept the Valkyries alive with 26 points, and Tiffany Hayes scored 15. Nobody else gave them much. Golden State shot 7 of 27 from deep, just under 26 percent. It won the third quarter 21-17 and trimmed the margin to eight with 1:15 left, but Gray answered with her fifth three to shut the door.
“The poor start was unacceptable,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. Dream coach Karl Smesko pointed ahead instead: “It’s such a great opportunity. I think our team is ready for it.” Reese said the early start did not hurt Atlanta: “We fed off their energy.”
A first-time champion on Saturday
The series is tied 3-3 and heads to a decider. Game 7 is Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Atlanta, the fourth seed, and Golden State, the second seed, are both chasing the first title in their history, so a new champion is guaranteed.
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