Dream Beat Valkyries 80-69 to Force the First Game 7 in WNBA Finals History, on Halloween Night in San Francisco
Atlanta poured in 32 first-quarter points before a lunchtime sellout of 17,000, got 23 from Allisha Gray and a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double from Angel Reese, and never trailed after the opening minute.
The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon at State Farm Arena to tie the WNBA Finals at three games apiece and force a Game 7 - the first in league history since the Finals moved to a best-of-seven format in 2025, Reuters and USA TODAY reported. Both franchises are chasing their first championship.
Atlanta decided the game early. The Dream scored 32 points in the first quarter to Golden State's 15, assisted their way to a 46-26 halftime lead, and did not trail after the opening minute. Allisha Gray scored 23 points on five three-pointers, Rhyne Howard added 21 with four threes, and Atlanta's 13 made threes tied the most by a team facing elimination in Finals history. Angel Reese posted her fourth double-double of the series - 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists - and Jordin Canada added 10.
Golden State's push came late. Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26 points and Tiffany Hayes added 15, and the Valkyries, who made just 7 of 27 three-point attempts and scored 26 points in the entire first half, cut a lead that had reached 25 down to single digits in the final two minutes before Gray closed the door. The matinee itself was part of the story: a sellout crowd of 17,000 showed up for a 12:30 p.m. Eastern tip forced by scheduling conflicts with the Atlanta Hawks, Reuters reported, and the Finals have drawn record viewership, averaging 2.1 million viewers for Game 1.
Now the season ends on Halloween. Game 7 is Saturday night, October 31, at 8 p.m. Eastern at Chase Center in San Francisco, where Golden State will have its home crowd and Atlanta will have the momentum of a team that refused to be crowned against at lunchtime. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, whose expectation of a 'street fight' this station carried this morning, gets his wish - one game, winner take all.
