For the first time in WNBA history, we've got a Game 7.
When the league first implemented seven-game series last year, fans might've felt short-changed when the Las Vegas Aces coasted to a 4-0 sweep of the Phoenix Mercury.
But these playoffs have been a tournament rife with change, of newness and firsts, of history and records. Two ringless teams, a Golden State Valkyries side with only two seasons under its belt, Angel Reese stamping herself as one of the league's biggest stars on and off the court after a move to the Atlanta Dream, and a duel between offence-first and defence-first philosophies. Much has felt novel about the WNBA this year; why not take it a step further with a Game 7?
It was an odd matinee start for a potentially title-clinching game — at-home Golden State fans had to wake up for a 9:30 a.m. PT tip-off on the West Coast, and the Valkyries certainly played like they were still going through the motions of a morning shootaround. The Dream, meanwhile, looked incredibly well-rested.
Atlanta defended home court in a sold-out State Farm Arena, carrying a hot start past the finish line for an 80-69 win over the Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday afternoon.
Allisha Gray led the way for the Dream, scoring a team-high 23 on 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-7 from deep, while Rhyne Howard netted 21 with four threes and Angel Reese chipped in 15 points, 14 rebounds, and a game-high six assists for her fourth double-double of the Finals.
Meanwhile, Gabby Williams scored a game-high 26 but shot 8-of-22 from the field, falling on hard times yet again as she's yet to eclipse 40 per cent from the floor in the Finals. The issues weren't hers alone, however, as Tiffany Hayes was the only other Valkyrie in double digits with 15 points, and Mississauga, Ont., native Laeticia Amihere had five points and 10 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
Atlanta's in-and-out offence worked to great effect in the first half, with only two of its makes coming from the mid-range as it coasted to a 20-point lead going into the break with a stellar 53.1 per cent hit rate from the field. The Dream bullied the Valkyries in the first quarter, in particular, as they finished the frame with 32 points — the first time in Golden State history it allowed 30 or more in the opening 10 minutes.
Though the offence cooled in the second half, Atlanta had built up enough of a lead and padded it with opportunistic transition buckets and clutch shooting to secure the win, giving State Farm Arena employees enough time to convert the court for a Hawks game later Thursday night. Nice of them not to allow a trophy ceremony.
Before we get set for Saturday's winner-take-all, the spookiest show on TV this Halloween, here are some takeaways from a momentum-shifting Game 6.
Dream in the Splash Zone
Nowhere near one of the top three-point shooting teams in the WNBA, shooting 32.5 per cent from range in the regular season, the Dream have found ways to win games at the rim, in transition and at the charity stripe. So when the shots aren't falling from deep, they've got a strong foundation and formula to lean on.
When the shots are falling, well, good luck.
In the regular season, the Dream are a near-spotless 14-1 when they shoot above 36 per cent from three-point range, with their lone blemish a hiccup against the Portland Fire back in late August, when the scoring dried up from inside the arc. And in the playoffs, while the shooting hasn't been as loud, they're undefeated in games when they hit at least seven triples.
So, when the Dream got things rolling with a triple from Gray in the first minute, another from Hillmon less than a minute later, and six-of-eight in the opening frame alone, it was time for Natalie Nakase and the rest of the Golden State coaching staff to prep for Game 7.
It was non-stop from Atlanta in this one, as back-to-back threes from Jordin Canada and Gray built the lead up to 12 in the first, then Howard sank two more to take it to 17 with less than three minutes to go.
Reese put the cherry on top in the second quarter when she knocked one down from the corner midway through the second, giving all five Dream starters a make from range and increasing the gap to 23 points. If the Valkyries hadn't already spiritually ascended after the earlier Dream onslaught, this make sent them to Valhalla (or Ballhalla — Golden State's moniker for the Chase Center in San Fran — for Game 7), as the Dream are undefeated at 15-0 when Reese makes a triple in the regular or post-season.
Though the Valkyries clawed back in the second half, shutting things down on defence and finding some form from deep through Kaila Charles, the Dream answered runs with clutch triples in the fourth.
Gray opened the frame with a three to make it a 19-point game, and after an 8-2 Valkyries run, she hit another, followed by Reese's second of the night to cancel out the swing. To end things, Gray hit her fifth triple of the night with under a minute to go after the Valks cut it to eight, sinking one from the corner for the dagger.
Atlanta ended the game 13-for-29 from deep for 45 per cent. When it's good for the Dream, it's great.
Dream unafraid of Spooky G
Halloween might be her favourite time of the year, but Gabby Williams certainly hasn't played like it so far.
It's been a Finals to forget for the Valkyries superstar, as she came into Game 6 shooting only 28.9 per cent from the field. Though she's never been the most efficient scorer, nor has she been truly asked to be a No. 1 option, 16.2 points per game under the brightest lights, against a team like Atlanta that can get points when it's needed, is nowhere near enough from a player of her calibre.
Once again, Williams couldn't get it going in Atlanta, starting 1-of-9 before knocking down a few in the third quarter. Even when she found twine coming out of halftime — took a deflected entry pass to Reese the other way for a lay, stepped into a three from the wing and drove in for another two — her buckets were sandwiched between more misses and turnovers.
Credit to the Dream defenders, with players like Isobel Borlase, Reese and Howard picking up physical defensive shifts on the French international, but Williams' problems went beyond her assignments, as she routinely missed open layups and played a step slow on drives, particularly through the first three quarters.
While she improved her final box score in the fourth, scoring 15 points in the frame, including 12 straight for Golden State to cut the deficit to 12 with three minutes left, her missed looks through the opening 30 minutes loom large as the Valkyries missed a chance to capitalize on stellar defensive possessions.
Sure, she may have hurt her leg in Game 1 and has played slightly sluggish since, but everyone plays through injuries this time of year. Gray's hand has been hurt since the series against New York, Reese's physical play has left her bruised and battered, and Tip Hayes has been on the other end of several hard hits from Atlanta. No more excuses for Williams if she wants to help the Valkyries make history.
