Valkyries on Brink of WNBA Championship After Dominating Game 5
Golden State secures a commanding 3-2 series lead over the Atlanta Dream.
The Golden State Valkyries are one victory away from clinching the WNBA championship after defeating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the Finals on Monday night at the Chase Center. The Valkyries protected their home court, taking a 3-2 lead in the best-of-five series.
Four Valkyries players reached double figures in scoring. Center Kiah Stokes led the team with 13 points, adding eight rebounds and three blocks while shooting efficiently from the field. Veronica Burton also contributed 13 points, alongside eight rebounds, four blocks, and three assists. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini each scored 12 points to support the Valkyries' offense.
The first half of Game 5 saw a low-scoring affair, with both teams combining for just 47 points. However, the Valkyries maintained a strong defensive performance throughout the game.
This marks a significant achievement for the Golden State franchise in only its second season. The Valkyries have sold out every regular-season home game for two consecutive years and have reached the playoffs in each of their seasons. In the postseason, they eliminated the defending champions, the Aces, in the semifinals.
The potential championship-clinching Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with a tip-off time of 12:30 p.m. The NBA's Atlanta Hawks have adjusted their game against the Cavaliers to 8 p.m. to accommodate the WNBA Finals, but a changeover of the court surface could impact any celebration if the Valkyries secure the title in Atlanta.