Valkyries Take Commanding 3-2 Lead Over Dream in WNBA Finals
Golden State secures a crucial Game 5 victory at home, putting them one win away from their first championship.
The Golden State Valkyries are one victory away from clinching the WNBA title after defeating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the Finals. The home crowd at "Ballhalla" fueled the Valkyries' defensive intensity, which proved too much for the Dream.
Kiah Stokes was a dominant force in the paint, recording 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Veronica Burton provided crucial support with a similar stat line of 13 points, eight rebounds, and a game-high four blocked shots. Their defensive efforts were key in limiting Angel Reese and the Dream's offensive output.
Angel Reese finished Game 5 with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, a notable dip from her performance in earlier games of the series. She expressed continued belief in her team's ability to rebound despite the deficit.
The Valkyries' "strength in numbers" philosophy was on display, especially when leading scorer Gabby Williams struggled offensively. Coach Natalie Nakase's decision to keep the starting lineup that secured a Game 4 win—featuring Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles—proved effective again. Hayes contributed 12 points, with Nakase emphasizing a desire to win the championship for the veteran guard.
Despite a slow start offensively, with the first half marking the lowest combined score in WNBA Finals history, the Valkyries found their rhythm in the second half. Stokes' crucial three-pointers in the third and fourth quarters energized the sellout crowd at Chase Center and extended Golden State's lead.
"It feels pretty special," Stokes said of the crowd's reaction. "I always know what I brought to a team, I always understood my value but just to hear an arena full of 18,000 fans it just really makes me feel appreciated and loved."
Stokes' consistent defensive presence has been a key factor in the Valkyries' playoff run, with her streak of three or more blocks in six consecutive games tying a record set by Lisa Leslie in 2003.
The Dream struggled with turnovers, committing 17 which led to 21 points for the Valkyries. Atlanta will now look to force a Game 7 by winning Game 6 on Thursday at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT, a time that drew commentary from Dream coach Karl Smesko regarding fan accessibility.
"I hope everybody gets to see it somehow and I know that for some people it’s not realistic, they have jobs and won’t be able to make it. So I’m disappointed for that but I’m really hopeful that as many people can see the game as possible,” Smesko stated.