Historic Arena Shift Accommodates Record Crowd
The Atlanta Dream seized control of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night, overpowering the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 at State Farm Arena to secure a 2-1 series lead. According to Yahoo Sports, the matchup was moved from the Dream’s regular 3,500-seat home at Gateway Center Arena to downtown Atlanta’s major venue to accommodate surging demand. The venue change paid off with a sellout crowd of 17,099 fans packing the arena.
The offensive explosion set a new franchise record for points in a WNBA Finals game, according to postgame league notes. Five Atlanta players reached double figures as the team shot 49.3% from the field, overcoming a series trend where no team had previously shot better than 35% in a single game.
Angel Reese Drives Atlanta’s Dominant Paint and Transition Game
Forward Angel Reese led the charge with 21 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting, adding three assists and three steals in 34 minutes of action. With the performance, Reese became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record three consecutive double-doubles. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, becoming the first player in league history to record five or more steals in consecutive Finals games after previously collecting six in Game 2.
Naz Hillmon contributed 15 points off the bench, shooting 6-of-10 from the field including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Dream’s balanced attack overwhelmed Golden State defensively, as Atlanta capitalized on 17 turnovers to score 22 points. The hosts also dominated inside, winning the points-in-the-paint battle 44-20 and outscoring the Valkyries 13-5 on fast breaks.
Golden State’s Third-Quarter Rally Fails To Halt Atlanta
The Valkyries struggled early, missing their first eight field goal attempts as Atlanta jumped out to a 9-1 lead. However, Golden State fought back behind strong shooting from Janelle Salaün, who scored 11 points in the second quarter alone, helping the visitors narrow the deficit to 46-40 by halftime.
Golden State carried that momentum into the third quarter, opening with an 8-2 run capped by Cecilia Zandalasini’s second 3-pointer of the half to tie the game at 48. But Atlanta responded decisively, closing the period on a 12-2 run that re-established a comfortable 71-57 advantage. DeWanna Bonner chipped in five points during the crucial stretch to help put the game out of reach.
Coaching Perspectives and Series Outlook
Dream head coach Karl Smesko praised his roster’s poise during Golden State’s third-quarter surge. Smesko noted that while the team’s early second-half possessions were sloppy, the players managed the huddle and corrected their mistakes independently before pulling away. Smesko cautioned that the series remains far from decided, reminding everyone that a team needs four wins to claim the championship.
Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase and her squad face mounting pressure heading into Game 4, having committed 17 turnovers that fueled Atlanta’s transition offense. Veronica Burton and the Valkyries must tighten ball security as the series continues in Georgia, where the Dream look to press their home-court advantage further.