The Atlanta Dream are now just one victory away from their first WNBA championship after dismantling the Golden State Valkyries in a decisive 95-71 win on Wednesday night. Playing before a star-studded, sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena, the Dream seized a 2-1 series lead behind a relentless defensive effort and a historic individual performance from Angel Reese. For a city already steeped in cultural influence, the atmosphere was electric as local icons like Ludacris and 2 Chainz watched the franchise edge closer to sporting glory.
Angel Reese continued her breathtaking introduction to the postseason, recording her third consecutive double-double of the Finals with 21 points and 12 rebounds. By doing so, she became the first player in league history to achieve three straight double-doubles in the championship round. Reese credited the win to a selfless team dynamic, noting that she didn’t even have to ask for the ball because everyone was clicking. Her dominance inside was part of a larger trend, as Atlanta completely controlled the paint, outscoring Golden State 44-20 in the interior.
While Reese provided the power, Rhyne Howard provided the disruption. Howard managed five steals in Game 3, following up six steals in Game 2 to become the first player ever to record five or more steals in back-to-back Finals games. Despite some lingering frustrations with her own offensive rhythm, Howard contributed 16 points and played a pivotal role in an Atlanta defense that suffocated Golden State from the jump. The Valkyries struggled immensely early on, failing to register a single field goal for more than five minutes of the opening quarter.
The struggle remained consistent for Golden State throughout the evening as they shot only 35 percent from the field and coughed up 17 turnovers. Leading scorer Gabby Williams found herself trapped by Atlanta’s perimeter pressure, managing only 15 points on an inefficient 5-for-18 shooting night. While Golden State’s bench attempted to keep them competitive, their starters were largely neutralized by a Dream squad that looks increasingly poised to bring home its first trophy this Saturday.
