Valkyries face Dream in Game 6 to win second season title

The Golden State Valkyries will attempt to secure the WNBA championship in their second season on Thursday.

The series shifted dramatically after the Golden State squad recovered from an early deficit. Atlanta took Games 2 and 3 to lead 2-1. However, the Valkyries responded with consecutive wins in Games 4 and 5 to take a 3-2 series lead. This marks the second year the championship has used a best-of-seven format.

The turnaround centered on defensive discipline and roster adjustments. In their first two losses, Golden State averaged 18 turnovers that resulted in 23 points for Atlanta. In their subsequent wins, that number dropped to nine turnovers yielding only seven points for the Dream. Head coach Natalie Nakase also changed her starting lineup after Game 3. She inserted Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes into the starting five. Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini moved to the bench. This was the first time in WNBA Finals history a team made such changes without an injury. Nakase shortened her rotation to seven players, giving Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton, and Gabby Williams closer to 30 minutes per game.

Atlanta's offensive production has stalled. Angel Reese, the 2026 Defensive Player of the Year, was limited to 2-for-12 shooting in Game 4. She scored eight points on that night. In Game 5, she managed seven points on 2-for-8 shooting. Her team mates have also struggled. Rhyne Howard averages 14.4 points, Allisha Gray 12.0, and Jordin Canada 10.6 in the series. Gray, who shot 46.2 percent in the regular season, is hitting 34.4 percent in the playoffs while dealing with a hand injury.

The Valkyries have controlled the pace by limiting easy baskets for Atlanta. They have used steals to create layups and worn down the Dream defense by waiting for open shots. Nakase noted she had to slow down her own impatience to help the team. The Valkyries have not let Atlanta dictate the rhythm in the last two contests.

Game 6 tips off at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. A win for Golden State ends the series. A win for Atlanta sends the match to San Francisco for Game 7 on Halloween. Both teams are traveling between time zones with two days of rest between games.

Atlanta needs to find scoring from multiple players to stay alive. DeWanna Bonner has been held to single-digit scoring in all five games. The Dream ranked third in points per game during the regular season but have seen that offense suppressed by Golden State's defense. The Valkyries, who ranked 14th in scoring, are accustomed to winning low-scoring games.

The early afternoon tip time is the same for both squads. Neither team has a distinct advantage regarding the schedule. The outcome will depend on whether Golden State maintains its defensive identity or if Atlanta can rediscover its offensive confidence.