The result of Game 3 of the 2025 WNBA Finals was never in doubt.
The Atlanta Dream held the lead over the Golden State Valkyries for 94 percent of the game and cruised to a 97-71 victory to take a 2-1 series lead.
The dominance was visible on all fronts.
Atlanta had an offensive rating of 117.3. They had 13 fastbreak points compared to Golden State’s five. Four of the Dream’s starters scored in double figurs in the victory.
The Valkyries’ offense hasn’t stalled. It’s died. Golden State shot 35 percent from the field. Of the starters, only Cecilia Zandalasini shot at 50 percent. She finished with 13 points.
If it wasn’t for a fourth-quarter collapse in Game 1, the Dream would be up 3-0, and these Finals would be all but over. Still, Atlanta is taking nothing for granted. They know the job isn’t finished.
As head coach Karl Smesko said, “We’re only halfway home. We have two wins. We need two more.”
How the Dream flexed their advantages throughout Game 3
Atlanta wasted no time taking control. It was a heavy diet of Allisha Gray and Angel Reese from the start, putting the Dream in front 9-1. Aminata Gueye finally gave the Valkyries their first field goal midway through the opening frame. Tiffany Hayes then went on a 5-0 run, and the Valkyries were back in business.
Rhyne Howard has struggled all series long, but in Game 3 her offense was on full display. She scored inside and knocked down her free throws.
Reese continued her top play and drilled a 3-pointer to extend Atlanta’s lead to double figures. After 10 minutes of play, the Dream led 23-15.
The Valkyries had their best quarter of the night in the second. Janelle Salaiün got hot from beyond the arc, hitting three 3-pointers and scoring 11 of her 13 points in the period.
Gabby Williams was also in rhythm, demonstrating her three-level scoring. At halftime, the Valkyries trailed by just six points.
The Valkyries had their outside shooting going to start the third quarter. Zandalasini knocked down two deep shots, part of an 8-2 Golden State run, to tie the game at 48.
Atlanta then responded. Howard scoring a tough basket near the rim to regain the lead. Reese scored a pair of free throws, converted on a layup and the Dream were back in control.
Hayes scored to end the run, but Atlanta kept Golden State at bay. Reese continued to score inside, DeWanna Bonner went on her own 5-0 run and the icing on the cake was a Howard rejection that got the Atlanta crowd up to 1,000. After three quarters, the Dream led by 14, their largest lead of the night.
After the game, Angel emphasized the importance of the third quarter to Atlanta’s overall approach, asserting:
We want to be the best third-quarter team coming out at halftime because I think that takes their confidence. It puts them away.
The Valkyries faced the same situation in the fourth quarter of Game 3 as in Game 2; they needed an epic run to come back.
The opposite occurred.
As the game fell out of Golden State’s reach, Atlanta piled on. Reese was buzzing around the court like a bee. She contested every shot, cleaned the glass and hustled in every possible opportunity.
After a Bonner layup midway through the fourth, the lead was up 20, and it was clear no miracle was coming for the Valkyries. All that was left was for the clock to hit zero, so Golden State could reset and focus on Game 4.
Reese finished with a game-high 21 points. She also had 12 rebounds in the win. Howard had 16 points, five steals and four assists. She is the first player in WNBA Finals history to have five or more steals in consecutive games. Naz Hillmon had 15 points on 60 percent shooting, and Jordin Canada scored 10 points in the win.
Williams scored 15 points for the Valkyries, and Hayes had 14 off the bench.
Game 4 will take place in Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. ET. This is a must-win scenario for the Valkyries.
