Dream Fall 3-2 in Finals
Angel Reese scored seven points as Atlanta drops the decisive game to Golden State.
By Andrew Yang ·
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals.
The series reached this point after the Dream won the first two games and lost the next two. Atlanta entered Game 5 needing a victory to force a deciding Game 6. The Valkyries secured the win with a 64-point output, which stands as the fewest points scored by a winning team in a Finals game since 2005. The Dream managed only 55 points, their lowest total in a Finals contest since 2021.
Angel Reese played a limited offensive role in the loss. She scored seven points on 2-of-8 shooting from the field and made three of her four free throws. This performance marked the first time in her career she has recorded consecutive games with two or fewer field goals. She was also fouled four times. In the previous game, Reese had eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. Atlanta took 116 free throws across the first four games, averaging 29.0 per contest. The team shot 11-for-14 from the line on Monday, their fewest attempts in a postseason game.
Head coach Karl Smesko criticized the officiating after the final buzzer. He described the contact on Reese as "ridiculous" compared to the rest of the roster. Smesko noted that officials missed several double-dribbles and travel calls against Golden State. He stated that the level of play requires fewer errors. "You can't be at this level and make that many mistakes," he said.
Reese expressed frustration over the physicality of the series. She noted that opponents frequently pushed her before she could turn in the post, leading to offensive foul calls. "I'm kind of used to it because this was happening throughout the season," she said. She added that teammates being knocked off the floor was a source of irritation.
The Dream shot 29.2% from the field, the fourth-lowest percentage for any team in a Finals game. They converted on just 23.5% of their shots in the paint, the worst mark for any team in a game this postseason. Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase called the physical style expected for two defensively focused teams. "Both teams really want to win this," Nakase said.
The series continues with Game 6, which will determine the champion if Atlanta wins, or end the season if Golden State wins.
