The Golden State Valkyries visited the Atlanta Dream on Thursday, trying to win the championship while the hosts were trying to stave off elimination. After both teams had their shooting struggles in the series, Atlanta had early success there and it snowballed for the Valkyries as they trailed by significant margins for nearly the entire game. Golden State did make it closer in the fourth quarter before losing 80-69, setting up a deciding game back in San Francisco on Saturday.
The Lineup
There was late player news with Te-Hina Paopao being out for Atlanta. Both teams had the same starting lineups, but Golden State turned to Laeticia Amihere early for backup center minutes to make it a nine-player first half rotation. That tightened back down to eight players in the second half while Atlanta stuck with the same seven players for the entire game as there was no garbage time even with the margin being what it was for most of the game.
First Quarter
Veronica Burton scored on the first possession for the Valkyries before Atlanta responded with a three-pointer and made another one on the next trip down the floor. Tiffany Hayes scored next by getting to the lane and rising up for a tough shot. Gabby Williams added a free throw after the Dream got whistled for a Defensive 3-Seconds violation. Atlanta scored again ahead of an early timeout as neither team was quite in rhythm when action resumed.
The Dream did get a three-point play and then made consecutive three-pointers to make it a double-digit game. Their run continued with a fastbreak basket before Williams made the first Golden State three-pointer. The hot shooting for Atlanta continued with two more makes beyond the arc. Cecilia Zandalasini entered the game and promptly made a basket with an impressive move, but the Dream could not miss as their shooting also opened up driving lanes to get them back to the free throw line. They scored again before Zandalasini made a three-pointer as she answered an Atlanta free throw with a pair of makes to leave them trailing 32-15.
Second Quarter
Both teams had some early misses before Atlanta made another three-pointer with Tiffany Hayes’s foul-line jumper opening the scoring for the Valkyries. The Dream responded and then raced ahead for another basket to lead to a Golden State timeout. Hayes got fouled and made the free throws after the stoppage before an Atlanta three-pointer and another basket. Hayes continued to push back with a layup, but the Dream kept up the big lead ahead of the other timeout. Hayes made a three-pointer and Laeticia Amihere got her first basket by running the floor in transition, but the Valkyries still trailed 46-26 at the break.
Third Quarter
Atlanta scored the first basket of the half on a three-pointer, but Tiffany Hayes was able to drive the baseline and make the layup, although she missed the free throw after getting fouled. The Dream answered and then got two free throws and the ball after a flagrant foul on Veronica Burton. Gabby Williams made the defensive play and then raced down the floor for a layup. She made a three-pointer as the defensive intensity remained high before a timeout.
The Dream got a three-point play when action resumed before Williams responded by driving in for a layup. Burton drove in next and the Valkyries nearly got another chance quickly with good defense. Atlanta did score next before Burton made a pair of free throws. They made two of the free throws after a foul beyond the arc, but Kaila Charles made her first basket from long-range. The Dream went to the post and Cecilia Zandalasini answered by backing her defender down to set up a jumpshot. Charles made another three-pointer after an Atlanta free throw, still leaving the Valkyries trailing 63-47.
Fourth Quarter
Atlanta opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but Tiffany Hayes got the Valkyries on the board. Veronica Burton got fouled after an inbounds play got her a path to the basket and she made both free throws. Gabby Williams got fouled next and made free throws. The Dream scored before Williams answered with a layup and then they extended the lead again with a three-pointer, making another one ahead of a timeout. Williams drove in again for a layup as there was another stoppage for Tiffany Hayes to get treatment after hitting the floor.
Williams made a three-pointer and then got to the free throw line driving after a rebound, making one shot to get the Valkyries closer. Atlanta got the point back after a foul before the ball was inbounded and then called a timeout. Williams got the ball after a defensive stop and drew a foul to add two more free throws. Laeticia Amihere secured a rebound and got fouled, making one of the free throws. The Dream answered with their own free throws and then unsuccessfully challenged a foul call, leading to two Amihere free throws. Gabby Williams made it a single-digit deficit with a three-point play after a couple of stops. Atlanta’s three-pointer stopped the momentum and neither team scored again with an 80-69 final.
Player of the Game
The award for this game will go to Gabby Williams as she fought back from a tough start to help lead the efforts in the second half. Most of the team struggled on offense early, but they did not just concede the game to focus on Saturday. She exemplified that with more than half of the points in the second half and nearly matched Atlanta’s scoring in the fourth quarter. She has continued to take the initiative on offense, especially late in games and how she does in the deciding game will be a big factor for the Valkyries being able to lift the trophy in the end.
The Verdict
The Valkyries knew that this would be a tough game with an opponent trying to recover from two losses and not to have their season ended in front of their home fans. This was not quite like the other losses as it was fueled by Atlanta finding their shooting rhythm early and making it difficult for the Valkyries to fight back from such a big early deficit. Once they got rolling it became even harder to try to take away their options on offense with everyone firing. Preventing the Dream from having that kind of start will be critical to getting a win in the final game and there were some signs that Golden State found their footing in the second half.
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