The Golden State Valkyries are just one win away from their first WNBA title.
The Valkyries knocked off Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream on Monday night in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. They earned a tough 64-55 win over the Dream at Chase Center, giving them a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6 Thursday in Georgia.
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If the Valkyries can win once again and capture a WNBA title, it would be a remarkable feat considering this is only the franchise’s second season.
Neither team shot well in the first half Monday night. They combined to shoot just 5 of 29 from behind the arc in the first 20 minutes, and the Valkyries managed just one basket in the final seven minutes of the game. But they managed to hold the Dream to just eight points in the second quarter, allowing them to maintain a narrow three-point lead at the break, 25-22.
Reese also missed much of the first half, after picking up two fouls early in the game. But she still returned to the locker room with five points and 10 rebounds. The combined 47 points made it the lowest first half in WNBA Finals history.
The offense picked up in the third quarter, but neither team was able to gain much separation. Kiah Stokes was a dominant force inside and out through the first three quarters. The eastern Iowa native helped shut down Reese inside and had three blocks while leading the Valkyries with a pair of 3-pointers. But Golden State only managed to take a six-point lead at the final break, at 46-40.
Stokes did it again early in the fourth quarter, this time from the opposite corner. The 3-point basket, his third of the night, gave the Valkyries a 10-point lead, their largest lead of the game at the time.
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It was part of a 16-6 burst to start the final quarter, and the Dream never got close enough to make a real effort again. Golden State held on until the end to secure the nine-point victory.
Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 20 points and five rebounds. Jordin Canada added 12 points and Allisha Gray finished with 10 points. They were the only three players to reach double figures for Atlanta. Reese only scored two points in the second half and had seven points and 15 rebounds on the night.
The Dream shot a season-low 29.2 percent from the field and committed 17 turnovers.
Stokes led the Valkyries with 13 points and eight rebounds. She now has six straight games with at least three blocks, matching Lisa Leslie’s postseason record from 2003. Stokes couldn’t even get through her on-court interview after the win, as fans at Chase Center began to overpower her with her name and “MVP!” songs.
Veronica Burton added 13 points and eight rebounds for Golden State, and Tiffany Hayes finished with 12 points.
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Game 6 of the series is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in Atlanta. The contest will take place at State Farm Arena, which was again uncertain, but it will have to go off at 12:30 p.m. local time for it to work. The Dream sold 10,000 tickets in the first 90 minutes they were available Monday, so Atlanta fans are sure to show up one more time, even if it’s a potentially deciding matinee contest.
But it will take a much better offensive night to keep their title hopes alive, something the franchise has yet to win.
Kate Magdziuk
Jordin Canada made a 3 with just under 17 seconds left, but the Valkyries were able to close out the game for a 64-55 victory.
Now, Golden State finds itself just one game away from the WNBA title in the franchise’s second season as the series returns to Atlanta for Game 6.
Kate Magdziuk
After Tiffany Hayes made two free throws to extend the Valkyries’ lead to 16, Jordin Canada responded with a 25-foot three-pointer. Rhyne Howard grabbed a key defensive rebound on the other end and buried another 25-footer deep.
The Valkyries call a timeout with 0:56.8 to play.
Kate Magdziuk
Snip-snap, snip-snap.
There was a lot of back and forth in the final minutes of Game 4 as the Valkyries and Dream traded turnovers. Gabby Williams, Allisha Gray and Tiffany Hayes all had steals in consecutive streaks.
But it’s the Valkyries who continue to capitalize on points from those turnovers, now with a 60-46 lead with just 1:46 left in the fourth.
Cassandra Negley
Natalie kept telling us that the shots would eventually fall. I guess we found “eventually”.
Ryan Young
Between Kiah Stokes’ final 3-pointer and Veronica Burton’s one and one, the Valkyries are seriously doing their best to blow up the Chase Center.
They are up 10 hours now with 6:25 remaining.
Cassandra Negley
It doesn’t matter THAT it broke the decibel meter. My word Kiah, have an offensive day too!
Cassandra Negley
The Valkyries struggle to stack monster decks to build more cushion. After Gabby Williams’s and-1 crossed a decibal yard somewhere, Kayla Thornton’s 3-pointer bounced.
Ryan Young
Somehow, Veronica Burton dropped that bucket to finish the third. What a gesture.
Ryan Young
Kiah Stokes is dominant so far tonight and enters the final break with 10 points, six rebounds and three blocks.
The Valkyries are six points ahead with 10 minutes remaining.
Cassandra Negley
Rhyne Howard and quadruple screen check Kiah Stokes is the best 3-point shooter in this game.
Cassandra Negley
Kiah Stokes makes Angel Reese think every time Reese gets the ball. Reese grabbed a loose offensive rebound and thought about going to the basket, but hesitated when he saw Stokes. She found Allisha Gray for a sweater instead. These are the kind of decisions that will allow the Dream to win this match since they have not yet been able to finish at the edge this evening (2-8 in total).
Ryan Young
Allisha Gray and Tiffany Hayes collided on a screen there, and both went down the court hard. Gray was initially booked for an offensive foul, and that was upheld after a review.
Gray and Hayes appear to be okay, just a little shaken. We’ll continue, with the Valkyries leading 34-26 midway through the third.
Ryan Young
Kiah Stokes just buried a 3-pointer from the corner to help propel a 7-0 outburst for Golden State. The Valkyries regain control here early in the third and force a quick timeout from Dream.
Cassandra Negley
The Valkyries kept their torch lit in the fifth game after leaving it in the trash for two games. They’re pretty fiery tonight.
Cassandra Negley
The college season is upon us, so I feel obligated to say… first to 50 wins? (See you soon, Duke.)
Cassandra Negley
Everything even seems powerful. The only statistic that screams is theft. Atlanta only had one in the first half. The Dream’s first four matches total respectively: 5 (L), 14 (W), 9 (W), 4 (L).
Golden State had three and five blocks. Another moment for Kiah Stokes. She’s been sidelined in outside credit for the Aces’ championship runs, but this season and the final series should put aside the idea that she’s not incredibly important to a contender.
Ryan Young
The Valkyries scored just one field goal in the final seven minutes of the half. But they maintained their lead while limiting the Dream to just eight points in the period.
It’s a three-point contest midway through Game 5. It was the lowest-scoring first half in WNBA Finals history.
Ryan Young
There’s a lid on the basket tonight. Golden State has gone over four minutes now without scoring a single point, allowing the Dream to get back into contention. Both teams are also 4-25 behind the arc.
The Valkyries lead 22-21 with 2:50 left in the first half.
Cassandra Negley
Veronica Burton had a few things to say after reconnecting with Reese and crashing to the floor on the other end of the line. Natalie Nakase was asked about him during pre-match availability and had essentially the opposite to say about her point guard.
“(She) continues to take a series of blows to the face, not reacting emotionally and just remaining calm. Most people would just lose their minds. And luckily, she’s a little frustrated and she’s looking at me because I’m saying, ‘You want to replace?’ She remains very connected with me and with the coaching staff, and I think that maturity should be recognized.”
Ryan Young
The Valkyries opened the second quarter on a 9-2 run to regain control of the game, but Allisha Gray scored 3 points to end it.
Golden State is back in front, but only just.
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