Valkyries beat Dream 64-55 to take a 3-2 WNBA Finals lead before Game 6 in Atlanta

A 64-55 win that puts Golden State within one game

Golden State beat Atlanta 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday, 26 October, taking a 3-2 series lead. The Valkyries had fallen behind 2-1 before winning Game 4 by 67-62 on Saturday, 24 October, and then Game 5. La Libre reported a 16-4 run by Golden State early in the fourth quarter that opened up a close contest. Atlanta shot 19-of-65 from the floor (29 percent), its lowest points total of the season, according to Al Jazeera.

Defence and the scoring leaders

Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton each scored 13 points and grabbed a team-best eight rebounds for the Valkyries. Tiffany Hayes and reserve Cecilia Zandalasini added 12 points apiece. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 20 points and Jordin Canada added 12. Angel Reese, the Dream star, scored seven points on 2-of-8 shooting but took a game-high 15 rebounds and five assists, per the Guardian. Speaking on the floor as the crowd chanted for her, Stokes said:

“We're not done yet. We've got one more.”

Rhyne Howard (Atlanta)20

Kiah Stokes (Golden State)13

Veronica Burton (Golden State)13

Tiffany Hayes (Golden State)12

Cecilia Zandalasini (Golden State)12

Jordin Canada (Atlanta)12

Angel Reese (Atlanta)7

Rhyne Howard (Atlanta)

20 points

Kiah Stokes (Golden State)

13 points

Veronica Burton (Golden State)

13 points

Tiffany Hayes (Golden State)

12 points

Cecilia Zandalasini (Golden State)

12 points

Jordin Canada (Atlanta)

12 points

Angel Reese (Atlanta)

7 points

Data from the article text

Nakase's grinding approach

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase had graded her own work at an F- through Games 1 to 3, according to the New York Times, before the team changed its approach. For Game 4 she moved Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the starting five, and the same pairing started Game 5. Gabby Williams struggled in Game 5, finishing with nine points on 3-for-14 shooting and six rebounds. Asked about the series' grinding pace after the win, Nakase said:

“Sometimes being an extremist doesn't work well in a seven-game series.”

Game 6 in Atlanta

Game 6 will be played on Thursday, 29 October, at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, which seats 17,000. The league announced the time and venue on Monday, moving the game to a larger arena than the Dream's usual home at Gateway Center. A New York Times column said that on Monday morning nobody knew where or when Game 6 would be played. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, who is outgoing, said in a statement delivered midday Monday:

“We look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta.”

Dream coach Karl Smesko said he would like WNBA championship games to be treated as a national holiday. If the series goes the distance, Game 7 would be played at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, 31 October.