The Golden State Valkyries moved within one victory of capturing their inaugural championship on Monday night, edging the Atlanta Dream in a thrilling Game 5 of the WNBA Finals before an electrifying home crowd in San Francisco. The hard-fought victory gave Golden State a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series, putting the expansion franchise in position to seal the title on road hardwood later this week.
Golden State relied on relentless perimeter defense and superior interior rebounding to withstand several second-half scoring runs from Atlanta’s dynamic backcourt. Transition baskets and second-chance points proved decisive down the stretch, as the Valkyries held the Dream without a field goal over the final three minutes of regulation while converting critical free throws to preserve their narrow advantage.
Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright acknowledged the missed defensive rotations that allowed Golden State to control the fourth-quarter tempo, emphasizing that her squad faces a must-win situation as the series shifts back to Georgia. Game 6 promises intense competition as the Valkyries seek to complete their historic maiden campaign, while the Dream fight to force a decisive winner-take-all Game 7.
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Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/26/sport/wnba-finals-valkyries-dream-game-five