Transcript: Atlanta Dream 97, Golden State Valkyries 71. Dream dominate fourth quarter to send Valkyries home. Angel Reese led everyone with 21 points.
The story
Golden State came to Atlanta looking to make noise, and for a half they kept it close. The Valkyries matched the Dream's intensity through 2 quarters, trailing just 46-40 at the break. But Atlanta's defense tightened in the second half. The Dream ran off 8-0 in the third and never looked back, building a lead that only grew wider. The fourth quarter was all Dream: 26 points to the Valkyries' 14. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 15 points and 8 assists, but it wasn't enough. Atlanta's balanced attack, led by Angel Reese's 21 points and 12 rebounds, proved too much. Final: 97-71.
221 points. 12 rebounds. Reese controlled the glass and the paint, setting the tone for everything Atlanta did. She was the game's best player on the game's biggest stage.
The stat line
The stat line
| Atlanta Dream | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel Reese | 21 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Rhyne Howard | 16 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Naz Hillmon | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isobel Borlase | 12 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jordin Canada | 10 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Allisha Gray | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DeWanna Bonner | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sika Kone | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Madina Okot | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Te-Hina Paopao | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden State Valkyries | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabby Williams | 15 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Tiffany Hayes | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cecilia Zandalasini | 13 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Janelle Salaun | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Aminata Gueye | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kaila Charles | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Veronica Burton | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Kaitlyn Chen | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kiah Stokes | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Juste Jocyte | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kayla Thornton | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
