It all comes down to one game. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries are tied 3-3 in the WNBA Finals, and Game 7 is Saturday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. This is the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, and whoever wins will celebrate the first championship in franchise history.
Game 7 at a Glance
| Matchup | Atlanta Dream at Golden State Valkyries |
| Series | Tied 3-3 |
| When | Saturday, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. Central) |
| Where | Chase Center, San Francisco |
| TV | USA, Peacock |
| Line | Golden State is a 1.5-point favorite, with the total between 142.5 and 144.5 |
Where We Left Off
I was in the building for Game 6, and I covered it here. The short version: Atlanta scored 32 points in the first quarter, led by as many as 25 and won 80-69 in front of a sold-out State Farm Arena. Allisha Gray scored 23, Rhyne Howard added 21, and Angel Reese had 15 points and 14 rebounds. If you want to know what it was like in the arena, my venue post is here.
Three Things to Watch
1. The start. Golden State fell behind 32-15 in the first quarter of Game 6, and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said she was baffled by her team’s lack of defensive intensity early. Golden State says it is determined to avoid another slow start. With the home crowd behind them, the first few minutes will tell us a lot.
2. Gabby Williams. Williams scored 26 in Game 6 and is averaging 20.3 points in 12 playoff games. Golden State needs her to have another big night, and it needs more help around her. Veronica Burton, the Game 5 star, went 2 of 13 in Game 6.
3. Can Atlanta keep shooting? The Dream made 13 of 30 threes in Game 6 after scoring just 62 and 55 points in Games 4 and 5. The Valkyries’ defense won those two games, and Kiah Stokes has been a problem at the rim all series. If Atlanta’s shots fall again, the Dream are hard to beat.
The Series
| Game | Date | Location | Result / Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Sat., Oct. 17 | San Francisco | Valkyries 68, Dream 64 |
| Game 2 | Mon., Oct. 19 | San Francisco | Dream 79, Valkyries 65 |
| Game 3 | Wed., Oct. 21 | Atlanta | Dream 97, Valkyries 71 |
| Game 4 | Sat., Oct. 24 | Atlanta | Valkyries 67, Dream 62 |
| Game 5 | Mon., Oct. 26 | San Francisco | Valkyries 64, Dream 55 |
| Game 6 | Thu., Oct. 29 | Atlanta | Dream 80, Valkyries 69 |
| Game 7 | Sat., Oct. 31 | San Francisco | 8 p.m., USA |
My Pick
In my Game 6 preview, I picked the Dream 74-69, and Atlanta did even better. This one is as close as it gets. The books have it nearly even, and each team has won a game on the other’s floor. Golden State has home court, but Atlanta already won in San Francisco in Game 2 and has the momentum after Thursday. I think Gray and Howard keep it going and Reese controls the glass. Dream 73, Valkyries 70.
Either way, a first-time champion will be crowned on Saturday night. I am ready for Game 7.
Featured photo: Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream by Michael Cohn Photo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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