ATLANTA, Ga. — Facing elimination in front of a sold-out home crowd in Atlanta, the Dream came out firing Thursday and never let go, beating the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 to even the WNBA Finals at three games apiece.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 23 points, hitting 5 of her 7 attempts from long range, and Rhyne Howard added 21 while going 4 for 6 from deep. Angel Reese put up a double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds and even knocked down a corner 3, and the Dream are now 16-0 this season when she makes at least one.
The quick start decided it. Atlanta had managed only 22 points before halftime in Game 5; this time it reached that number with roughly six and a half minutes gone in the opening period. A 13-0 burst that featured two 3-pointers from Jordin Canada turned a 6-5 game into a rout, and Atlanta led 32-15 after one quarter on 11 of 15 shooting, including 6 of 8 from beyond the arc.
The lead was 46-26 at the break as the Valkyries made only 9 of their 34 first-half shots, and it grew to as many as 25. Golden State made a late push behind Gabby Williams, who finished with 26 points, and Tiffany Hayes, who scored 15, getting within 77-66 with under two minutes left before a Gray 3 shut the door.
The win came two games after Golden State held the Dream to their lowest totals of the series in a 67-62 Game 4 and a 64-55 Game 5. Coach Karl Smesko credited better spacing and pace. The early 12:30 p.m. tipoff had drawn criticism, but only a few upper-level seats sat empty.
Game 7 is Saturday night at Golden State, with both franchises chasing their first WNBA title.
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