The WNBA had never needed a seventh game in the Finals. Now it does. The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 Thursday at State Farm Arena to tie the series 3-3. One game now decides who gets a first-ever championship, and WNBA Finals Game 7 is officially on.
How the Dream Flipped the Series
Atlanta did not ease into this one. It won the first quarter 32-15, and the Dream hit 6 of 8 from three in that opening stretch, tying a franchise record for threes in a quarter, according to the AP recap on Now Georgia. By halftime it was 46-26.
Consider the contrast. In Game 5, the Dream scored just 22 points in the entire first half. In Game 6, they dropped 32 in the first 10 minutes.
That is the kind of swing that wins a series.
Allisha Gray led the way with 23 points. Rhyne Howard added 21, and Angel Reese posted a double-double. The Dream led by as many as 25, and Gray also had three blocks. She was the primary defender when Golden State shot 2 of 17, per ESPN. If you want more on Atlanta’s WNBA rivals, our explainer on Fever star Kelsey Mitchell shows who else is driving the league’s buzz.
The Valkyries Made It Interesting, Barely
Gabby Williams scored 26 points for Golden State, 22 of them in the second half. Tiffany Hayes added 15. The Valkyries trimmed the deficit to 77-66 with 1:57 left. Then Gray hit a corner three with under a minute to play, and that was that.
The shooting numbers tell the story. Atlanta hit 13 of 30 from deep (43%). Golden State went 7 of 27 (26%) and shot just 31% overall.
You rarely win a Finals game shooting like that, and the Valkyries will need a better night in this winner-take-all showdown.
Dream vs Valkyries Game 7: What It Means for Fans
Here’s the thing: this is the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, and you get to watch it live. The best-of-seven format only began in 2025, so the league has waited a long time for this moment. Because neither franchise has ever won a title, a first-time champion is guaranteed.
The Dream have been a franchise since 2008 and reached the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013 before this year. The Valkyries, by contrast, are in their second season. One of them walks away with the trophy Saturday.
Finding it is easy. Game 7 airs on USA Network and streams on Peacock, per NBC Sports. Tip-off is 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) Saturday, Oct. 31, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Yes, that is Halloween night. Plan your trick-or-treating around it.
The Edge, and the Question Mark Hanging Over the Decider
Golden State has home court, and the Valkyries are 2-1 at Chase Center in this series. Atlanta, as the No. 4 seed, has to win in a building that has already beaten it twice.
Gray’s left hand is the quiet storyline. She hurt her fingers in Game 1 of the semifinals and needed a minor procedure. She has said she is not 100% healthy but can “take it up to another level” in Game 7.
The other swing factor is the three-ball. ESPN reported that Atlanta shot below 40% from deep in four of the first five games. Thursday’s 43% was the outlier. Which version of the Dream shows up Saturday may decide the whole thing. For another big sports moment on the calendar, see our FIFA World Cup 2026 bracket guide.
Dream coach Karl Smesko said after Game 5, “Nothing’s changed, we win two games we’re champions.” The Dream did their half of that. Now they need one more, on the road, with a title on the line.
So, which first-time champion blinks last?
