Dream 80, Valkyries 69: Atlanta's fast start sends the Finals to Game 7

Atlanta put 32 points on the board in the first ten minutes, then spent the afternoon protecting the lead that rescued its season. The Dream beat Golden State 80-69 on Thursday at State Farm Arena, tying the WNBA Finals 3-3 and forcing the league's first Finals Game 7.

The deciding game is Saturday, October 31, at Chase Center in San Francisco, with an 8 p.m. Eastern start. Golden State returns home after missing its first chance to close out the series.

The Valkyries had held Atlanta to 62 and 55 points in the previous two games. This time, the Dream led 32-15 after one quarter and 46-26 at halftime. Golden State outscored them 43-34 after the break, but recovering from that opening required more than a better second half.

Gray and Howard supply the shooting

Allisha Gray scored 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including five threes in seven attempts. Rhyne Howard added 21 and made four of six from deep. Together they supplied nine of Atlanta's 13 three-pointers, stretching a defense that had kept the Dream's offense cramped in Games 4 and 5.

Angel Reese finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. She also committed six turnovers and shot 5-for-18. Atlanta won with strong contributions from all three stars, even with Reese having a difficult shooting afternoon. Gray and Howard's efficiency gave the Dream room to absorb those empty possessions.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 26 points, and Tiffany Hayes scored 15. The Valkyries shot 22-for-70 overall and 7-for-27 from three. Atlanta's six additional made threes produced an 18-point advantage from beyond the arc, more than the final margin.

One more in San Francisco

Golden State's late push kept the closing minutes competitive. The league's live account recorded a 9-1 run that cut Atlanta's lead to 11 with 2:36 left. Gray answered with her fifth three in the final stretch, helping the Dream finish the job.

The series now returns to the building where Golden State won Game 5. Atlanta has already won there once, in Game 2. The Dream bring a revived perimeter offense; the Valkyries have two days to recover the pressure that made Atlanta's previous two losses so difficult. After six games, each has seen the other's best answer.