Dream Beat Valkyries 97-71, Take 2-1 WNBA Finals Lead

The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 behind Angel Reese’s 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Atlanta outscored Golden State 51-31 after halftime at State Farm Arena to take a 2-1 series lead.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Dream Establish an Eight-Point Lead

Atlanta opened with a 23-15 first quarter, establishing an early advantage at home. Golden State’s 15 points marked its second-lowest scoring period of the game, giving the Dream a useful cushion heading into the second.

Second Quarter: Valkyries Narrow the Gap

Golden State delivered its strongest offensive quarter, outscoring Atlanta 25-23. The Valkyries reduced the deficit to 46-40 at halftime, keeping the game within two possessions despite the Dream’s productive opening half.

Third Quarter: Atlanta Creates Separation

The Dream outscored the Valkyries 25-17 in the third, extending their advantage to 71-57. Atlanta increased its scoring output while Golden State fell eight points short of its second-quarter total, leaving the visitors with a 14-point deficit entering the fourth.

Fourth Quarter: Dream Complete the Win

Atlanta finished with its highest-scoring quarter, a 26-14 advantage that secured the 26-point victory. The Dream increased their scoring in each period after halftime while holding Golden State to just 31 second-half points.

Key Performers

• Angel Reese, Atlanta: Led all scorers with 21 points and collected a game-high 12 rebounds, adding three steals in a standout double-double.
• Jordin Canada, Atlanta: Led the Dream with eight assists as Atlanta recorded 26 assists on 34 made field goals.
• Gabby Williams, Golden State: Paced the Valkyries with 15 points and eight assists, while also contributing three steals.
• Kiah Stokes, Golden State: Led her team with 11 rebounds, helping Golden State finish within three of Atlanta on the boards.

NerdSports Stat: Atlanta outscored Golden State 50-24 on two-point baskets—a 26-point advantage that exactly matched the final margin, even though the Valkyries made three more 3-pointers.

Game Analysis: Atlanta’s Two-Point Efficiency Makes the Difference

Both teams attempted 69 field goals, but Atlanta converted 34 while Golden State made 24. That translated to 49.3% shooting for the Dream and 34.8% for the Valkyries, a substantial efficiency gap across an equal number of attempts.

Golden State actually held the advantage in made 3-pointers, finishing 12-for-30 compared with Atlanta’s 9-for-22. The difference came inside the arc: the Dream made 25 of 47 two-point attempts, while the Valkyries converted 12 of 39.

Atlanta also generated more opportunities at the free-throw line, finishing 20-for-29 against Golden State’s 11-for-17. Those nine additional free-throw points offset the Valkyries’ nine-point advantage from beyond the arc.

The supporting numbers favored Atlanta as well. The Dream recorded a 26-19 advantage in assists and a 37-34 edge in rebounds. Combined with Reese’s scoring and rebounding, those contributions helped Atlanta turn a competitive halftime score into a comfortable finish.

Series Outlook: Dream Lead 2-1

Atlanta now leads the best-of-seven WNBA Finals 2-1, moving two wins away from the championship. Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at 12:30 p.m. PDT. Golden State will look to even the series, while the Dream have an opportunity to build a 3-1 advantage.

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