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Atlanta Dream Even Series with Golden State Valkyries in WNBA Finals Game 6
Confirmed
In Short: The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, evening the series at 3-3.
The Atlanta Dream dominated Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, racing out to a 32-15 lead in the first quarter that they never relinquished, securing a 80-69 victory over the Golden State Valkyries.
Angel Reese, a standout player for the Dream, commented on the team's performance, saying, "It feels fitting that this historic 30th WNBA season, that began with a hard-fought CBA that elevated player compensation into a new echelon, is ending in the league's first-ever Game 7."
The Valkyries struggled throughout the game, shooting only 34.5% from the field and 26.4% from beyond the arc, while the Dream managed slightly better at 37.2% and 28.5%, respectively.
Gabby Williams, a Reed High graduate, had a slow start, missing eight of her first nine shots, but ended with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
The Valkyries had a chance to win their first WNBA title in their second season but were outscored by 17 points in the first quarter and never recovered.
Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals, while Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, helping the Dream earn their first Finals victory.
Angel Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Allisha Gray added 18 points, and the Dream stymied the Valkyries on both ends in the second half.
The Mid-American Conference is appealing the result of a recent Michigan vs. Indiana game, but this appeal is unrelated to the WNBA Finals.
Chase Center, home of the Valkyries, holds 18,064 and has sold out every game since the team began playing last year, while the Dream's regular home, Gateway Center Arena, accommodates only 3,500.
What this adds
The Valkyries' poor shooting performance and the Dream's strong defensive play were key factors in the Game 6 outcome.
The Dream's victory sets up a decisive Game 7, marking the first time in WNBA history that a series has gone to a seventh game.
The Mid-American Conference's appeal is unrelated to the WNBA Finals and does not impact the Dream's or Valkyries' performance.
Background
The Golden State Valkyries are heading into Game 6 of the WNBA Finals with a 3-2 series lead after defeating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Valkyries clinched a 3-2 series lead after defeating the Dream 64-55 in Game 5, setting up a crucial Game 6 in Atlanta.
What's confirmed
- Atlanta Dream star Angel Reese commented following her team's series-extending, 80-69 win over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday.
- Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals, while Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Dream earned the franchise’s first Finals victory after going winless in three previous trips.
- Angel Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Allisha Gray added 18 points and the Atlanta Dream stymied Golden State on both ends in the second half, beating the Valkyries 79-65 to even the WNBA Finals at one game apiece.
What's still developing
- Kendra Andrews: While Golden State coach Natalie Nakase called her team's tough start to Game 6 "unacceptable," guard Veronica Burton focused on the positive.
- We've seen three games in this series in which Golden State's defense had the last word and three when Atlanta's offense has busted past the 70-point mark.
- Following his team's convincing 52-28 win against Ole Miss on Saturday, Florida coach Jon Sumrall stated bluntly, "We have not arrived." Florida changed the playoff picture in Week 4, setting up a head-to-head trifecta of results and ranking implications with Ole Miss and LSU -- the type of SEC logjam the selection committee has seen before and needed the head-to-head tiebreakers to help sort out.
- Both Pete Golding and Lane Kiffin have spent time this week explaining that Saturday’s game is about more than the two coaches standing on the sideline.
- Saturday is a big game between two teams in the top 10 with two great quarterbacks, two great defenses, a plethora of big playmaking receivers and the result will have an impact on each team’s College Football Playoff resume.
- "There is a possibility, if the clot is minor enough, that doctors begin with anti-inflammatories only, while continuing to monitor. If the clot were to move, as the team said happened in Hurts' case, blood thinners are often the answer. If the clot were to worsen, blood thinners for roughly three months would be the next course of action."
- Hurts' injury comes at a time when the Eagles are on a three-game losing streak before playing the 2-2 Panthers.
- Two people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed and 11 others injured after a truck drove through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday afternoon, police said, in what officials called a "heartbreaking" incident that authorities are still investigating.
- ABC News' Chris Barry, Brianna Sanchez and Michael Pappano contributed to this report. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events Two people, including a 6-year-old boy, were killed and 11 others injured after a truck drove through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday afternoon, police said, in what officials called a \"heartbreaking\" incident that authorities are still investigating.
- Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is questionable for Monday night's Week 2 game against the visiting New York Giants, head coach Sean McVay told reporters Saturday (h/t the Orange County Register 's Benjamin Royer).
- World Cup winners Spain were made to work for a 3-1 win against the Czech Republic in the Nations League on Saturday while England sparkled in thrashing Croatia 7-0.
- Saturday morning, before a full slate of college football games, including two Top-10 matchups (Ohio State vs Indiana and Notre Dame vs BYU), many media personalities got the chance to make their opinions known about the expansion of the College Football Playoff from 12 teams to 24.