The Golden State Valkyries took care of business in Game 5 of the 2026 WNBA Finals, winning 64-55 over the Atlanta Dream to take a 3-2 series lead.
Golden State is now just one win away from a championship after holding Atlanta to their lowest-scoring game of the year.
Here’s what Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said after the game:
When you just put all your energy and all your fight into our defensive schemes, it’s going to be really hard to get into your first action or any of your first offensive
sets if you’re being pressured. And we can do that 1 through 5.
In this defensive contest, Golden State shined.
Veronia Burton was fantastic. She ended the game with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Kiah Stokes was great too. Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in the win.
For the Dream, Rhyne Howard had a solid showing. She ended the game with 20 points. Angel Reese again struggled to get going, as she was in foul trouble all game long. She finished with four fouls. Despite her inability to stay on the floor, she scored seven points and grabbed 15 rebounds in the loss.
After the game, Reese expressed her frustration, saying:
I’m still trying to figure out how to play through the physicality. A lot of us are getting fouled, and they’re not calling it, or we’re talking to the ref after, and they’re saying, ”We’ll get you next time.“
So it is a little frustrating, especially in the moment of it.
The Dream’s season will be on the line on Tuesday in Game 6. The good news is they’ll be at home at State Farm Arena, playing in front of a potentially sellout crowd.
How Golden State controlled Game 5
The Valkyries started the contest on a 4-0 run. Allisha Gray responded, giving the Dream their first points of the game. Angel Reese then got on the board, scoring on a fastbreak to even the contest.
Both teams struggled to score in the opening quarter. Atlanta shot 26 percent from the field and Golden State converted on just 29 percent of their attempts.
Kayla Thornton hit the first made 3-pointer for the Valkyries with under two minutes left in the period. Then, the Dream’s Rhyne Howard hit the first shot from deep for her team, giving them their first lead of the game.
Atlanta capitalized and held the lead as the second quarter began.
The Valkyries retook the lead as Veronica Burton went on her own 5-0 run before the Dream again responded. Naz Hillmon scored inside, Gray drilled a 3, and after a Howard basket, Atlanta was down by one.
Then, Cecilia Zandalasini hit a 3 to give Golden State a one-possession edge at the half, 25-22.
Atlanta got the first points of the third quarter thanks to a Jordin Canada driving layup. After that, Golden State took over. Kailia Charles hit a jumper, Stokes knocked down a 3 and after a Tiffany Hayes layup, the Dream asked for time.
After play resumed, Hayes kept the Valkyries rolling, scoring in the paint.
The Dream then began showing signs of offensive life. Gray and Howard combined for the next five Dream points, then Reese added to her total with a pair of made free throws. Her first points since the first quarter.
Howard hit one from beyond the arc, and the Dream were down by just two with under three minutes left in the frame.
Stokes responded with a 3 of her own, and Ballahalla went berserk.
Zandalasini scored a midrange jumper during the final minute. After a Howard make and a Burton layup in the closing seconds of the third quarter, the Valkyries were ahead 46-40 entering the fourth.
To start the final period, Canada scored to cut the Dream deficit down to four. Gabby Williams responded with three points the hard way, scoring inside and making her free throw.
Reese tried to get the Dream back on the board, but she forced the ball inside and committed an offensive foul. Burton then added two more points for the Valkyries, and their lead ballooned to double figures.
A 10-point deficit with a little over five minutes left in a low-scoring game made a comeback nearly impossible for the Dream. Atlanta played until the final second, but couldn’t close the gap enough to make things interesting down the stretch.
