The Atlanta Dream turned Game 3 of the WNBA Finals into a statement, dominating the Golden State Valkyries 97–71 at home to take a 2–1 series lead.
Angel Reese led the Dream with a double-double 21-point and 12-rebound that included three steals. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and five steals, while Naz Hillmon came off the bench to score 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including three three-pointers. Jordin Canada orchestrated the offense with eight assists to add to her 10 points, and rookie Isobel Borlase chipped in 12 points and 5 rebounds.
From the opening tip, Atlanta dictated the tempo and physical tone in front of a boisterous home crowd. The Dream suffocated Golden State’s offensive rhythm, forcing tough perimeter looks while relentlessly converting second-chance opportunities inside. Atlanta’s transition offense flustered the Valkyries throughout the contest, turning defensive stops into rapid break points. Golden State struggled to establish consistent interior scoring or contain Atlanta’s aggressive dribble-drive penetration.
Golden State shot just 34.8 percent from the field, compared to Atlanta’s 49.3 percent. Gabby Williams struggled to find her rhythm, going 5-of-18 for 15 points, though she distributed eight assists. Tiffany Hayes scored 14 points, while Cecilia Zandalasini and Janelle Salaün each added 13 off the bench. Kiah Stokes grabbed 11 rebounds, but the Valkyries never recovered from a sluggish 15-point first quarter. Although Golden State’s bench outscored Atlanta’s 38–27, it was not enough to spark a comeback.
After Golden State edged out the second quarter 25–23, Atlanta pulled away decisively by outscoring the Valkyries 25–17 in the third and 26–14 in the fourth. Frustration boiled over late in the game when Golden State’s head coach was assessed a technical foul.
Full game highlights:
With the victory, the Dream have now won two straight after dropping Game 1 by four points. Game 4 takes place Saturday in Atlanta, where the Dream will have a chance to move within one win of the championship. Golden State will need a sharp response to avoid facing elimination when the series returns home for Game 5.
