Atlanta Dream Earns First Finals Win, Returns Home Tied

The Atlanta Dream will bring the WNBA Finals home with the series tied after defeating the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 Monday night.

The victory was Atlanta’s first in a WNBA Finals game. It also erased the home-court advantage Golden State gained by winning the opener and turned Wednesday night’s game at State Farm Arena into the start of a new best-of-five contest within the best-of-seven series.

Reese leads Atlanta’s response

Angel Reese finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds after Golden State contained her during the second half of Game 1. She became only the third player to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a WNBA Finals game.

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Allisha Gray scored 18 points, while Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Canada closed the third quarter with a long buzzer-beating shot that gave Atlanta a 60-46 advantage.

Rhyne Howard spent part of the night in foul trouble but still made a major defensive contribution, setting a WNBA Finals record with six steals.

Defense changes the game

Atlanta’s pressure repeatedly disrupted Golden State’s offense and created scoring opportunities before the Valkyries could organize their defense. The Dream scored 24 points following turnovers and held a 19-0 advantage in fast-break points.

The decisive stretch came in the third quarter. Atlanta outscored Golden State 21-9, expanded a narrow halftime lead and prevented the Valkyries from producing the late comeback that decided Game 1.

The Game 2 box score and recap show a more balanced Atlanta performance than the four-point loss in Saturday’s opener, when the Dream scored only eight points in the fourth quarter.

Finals move to State Farm Arena

Game 3 begins at 8 p.m. Wednesday at State Farm Arena. The game is sold out, bringing the Dream back to Atlanta for the franchise’s first home Finals game since 2013.

Game 4 is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at State Farm Arena. A fifth game, if needed, would return the series to Golden State.

Atlanta entered the Finals without a victory in its previous Finals appearances. Monday’s result did more than end that drought: it showed the Dream can impose their pace and defensive pressure against a Golden State team that closed Game 1 more effectively.