SAN FRANCISCO (Azat TV) – The Golden State Valkyries moved within one victory of a WNBA championship in only their second season, defeating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night, October 26, 2026, at Chase Center. Center Kiah Stokes delivered a standout performance on both ends of the floor, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three blocked shots to push her team to a 3-2 series lead. Journal Gazette reported that the victory leaves the expansion-era franchise just one win away from hoisting the league trophy.
Following a raucous reception from the home crowd, Stokes addressed the fans from the floor as chants of “MVP!” echoed through the arena. “We appreciate you,” a smiling Stokes told the crowd. “We got one more.” The triumph came as head coach Natalie Nakase’s tactical adjustments continued to yield dividends after a pivotal Game 4 victory on Saturday, October 24.
Lineup Adjustments and Team Depth
Facing crucial roster decisions, Nakase elected to stick with the starting lineup changes she introduced in Game 4, keeping Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles in the starting five. Hayes, a 10-year veteran of the Atlanta franchise who came out of retirement, contributed 12 points against her former team. Meanwhile, Veronica Burton added 13 points and eight rebounds, helping shoulder the offensive burden on a night when leading scorer Gabby Williams struggled from the field.
Williams began the contest shooting 2-for-11 and missed all four of her three-point attempts. However, she converted a crucial three-point play with 9:08 remaining in the fourth quarter to extend the Valkyries’ lead to 49-42, finishing with nine points and six rebounds. NBC Sports noted that Nakase praised the roster’s collective resilience, pointing to her season-long philosophy of strength in numbers as every available player contributed to the defensive clampdown.
Atlanta’s Turnovers and Defensive Battles
The Atlanta Dream struggled to maintain offensive rhythm, committing 17 turnovers that translated directly into 21 points for Golden State. Forward Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, though her impact was heavily contested throughout the evening. Reese drew her third offensive foul with 7:43 remaining, showing visible frustration as the Valkyries’ interior defense successfully clogged the lanes.
Stokes punctuated the victory with crucial perimeter shooting, hitting a 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter and another with 7:21 left in the game. Those baskets ignited loud chants of her name from the rally-towel waving home crowd, sealing a hard-fought defensive battle.
Upcoming Elimination Game
The series now shifts back to Georgia as the Atlanta Dream face elimination on their home court. The league announced that Game 6 will take place on Thursday at the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 12:30 p.m. If the Dream manage to level the series, a decisive Game 7 will be played back at Chase Center on Saturday.