WNBA Finals Game 7: Valkyries vs. Dream Is the First Game 7 in Finals History, Tonight at 7 p.m. Central in San Francisco
Atlanta's 80-69 win in Game 6 forced a winner-take-all game neither franchise has ever played for a title - and it falls on Halloween night at Chase Center, on USA Network and Peacock.
The WNBA season ends tonight with a game the league has never had before. The Golden State Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco - tipoff 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central, on USA Network and Peacock - the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, with a first championship waiting for whichever team wins it.
Atlanta forced it on Thursday. The Dream beat Golden State 80-69 in Game 6, behind Allisha Gray's 23 points, Rhyne Howard's 21 and Angel Reese's 15 points and 13 rebounds, according to Athlon Sports' account; Gabby Williams scored 26 and Tiffany Hayes 15 for the Valkyries, USA Today reported. Golden State, which could have won its first title in only its second season on Thursday, instead watched Atlanta storm out early in a midday tipoff and hold the lead.
The series has swung by building: Golden State took Game 5 at home 64-55, Atlanta answered on its own floor, and now home court returns to San Francisco for the decider. Neither franchise owns a WNBA championship - Atlanta has reached the Finals three times before without winning one - so tonight crowns a first-time champion either way.
For Austin's basketball audience, it is the second half of a Halloween doubleheader with the 6:30 p.m. Texas football kickoff - two winner-take-all atmospheres, one night. The Sports Desk files the Finals result after the final buzzer.
