The Atlanta Dream kept their championship hopes alive on Thursday, securing an 80-69 win over the Golden State Valkyries to force a decisive Game 7 in the WNBA Finals. The do-or-die matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET this Saturday at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Atlanta controlled the pace from the opening tip at State Farm Arena, which saw a sellout crowd despite a rare 12:40 p.m. ET start time—a scheduling necessity to utilize the city’s largest basketball venue. The Dream dominated early, establishing the largest first-quarter lead in WNBA Finals history by hitting 11 of 15 shots, including six from behind the arc. By the end of the opening period, Atlanta led by 17 points, extending that cushion to 25 at one stage before entering halftime with a 46-26 advantage. Building the biggest first-quarter lead in WNBA Finals history and controlling things for much of the rest of the game, though things got a bit hairy as Golden State rallied in the fourth quarter, the Dream dominated the Valkyries from the very jump of Game 6. I mean, we didn’t have everybody come out at 12:30 p.m. for no reason. So, we wanted to make sure we ended this right here.”. The game had to be scheduled at the midday slot to ensure the Dream hosted a Finals game at Atlanta’s premier basketball venue rather than their typical home arena outside the city that seats around 3,500. According to her friend Nailah Perry, also decked out in ATL gear,, She told her boss that “something came up” and that it was a “one-in-a-million” chance to support the team she loves, so she had to be at State Farm Arena. The drama over where Game 6 would be played was quickly forgotten as the Dream started fast. A 13-0 run in the first quarter helped the Dream jump out to a double-digit lead in the opening minutes with Allisha Gray leading the way with eight points in the first seven minutes. Going 9-34 from the floor in the half, the lead grew in the second quarter as the Valkyries couldn’t quite find their shooting form. Burton was whistled for a flagrant foul and the ensuing free throws rebuilt the Dream’s lead to 25. And the game started to get chippy, the tide did not turn after the halftime break as the Dream continued to dominate. The Valkyries had cut the Dream’s lead to 16 points with 10 minutes to go in the game, by the end of the third quarter. Bringing State Farm Arena to its collective feet, gray and Angel Reese nailed shots from long range on successive possessions to rebuild the Dream’s lead to 19.
Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard spearheaded the effort with 23 points each, while Angel Reese recorded another double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
The game grew physical in the second half, highlighted by a flagrant foul against Golden State’s Veronica Burton following a hard collision with Howard.
Despite the Dream’s command, the Valkyries mounted a late-game surge in the fourth quarter, narrowing the deficit to 12 with under three minutes remaining. Crucial late-game 3-pointers from Gray and Reese, combined with a key stop in the final minute, ultimately secured the victory. Who narrowed the lead to 12 with under three minutes to go, but that wasn’t enough to fully put away the Valkyries.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Reese noted the importance of setting an early tempo: “Every time we threw the first punch, we won the game in this series.” Fans at the arena displayed immense dedication to witness the pivotal win, with several supporters acknowledging they took time off work to attend. As the series moves to California for the final game, Reese emphasized that the Dream must maintain a “championship mentality” to clinch the title, adding, “We needed the opportunity. That’s all we needed and we maximized it today. The job is not done.” We appreciate the fans’ support on a weekday. Coy Wire caught up with a couple of Dream fans who made sure they were at the pivotal game instead of being stuck at the office.
The victory serves as a testament to Atlanta’s ability to maximize its home-court advantage during a high-stakes week. While the Valkyries made a frantic effort to rally—bolstered by a late-game scoring surge from Gabby Williams—the Dream’s resilience on the perimeter and consistent rebounding proved too much to overcome. The upcoming Saturday showdown will decide the 2026 WNBA champion, capping off a series that has seen both teams trade momentum throughout.
