Valkyries Defense Forces Deciding Game

The Golden State Valkyries are one victory from a WNBA championship after beating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 on Monday night at Chase Center. The result pushes the series to a sixth game in Atlanta on Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 p.m. EDT, with a possible seventh game back in San Francisco on Saturday. A sellout crowd of 18,000 watched from the stands.

Kiah Stokes led the scoring with 13 points and added eight rebounds and three blocked shots. Veronica Burton matched her with 13 points and eight rebounds, and set a postseason high with four blocks. The four blocks by a guard tie a mark set by Diana Taurasi in 2009 for a Finals game. Golden State held a 25-22 lead at halftime, the lowest-scoring first half in Finals history. Atlanta committed 17 turnovers that produced 21 points for the Valkyries.

Gabby Williams, the leading scorer for Golden State, finished with nine points on 3-for-14 shooting and went 0-for-4 from three-point range. Tiffany Hayes, who spent 10 seasons with Atlanta and came out of retirement two years ago, scored 12 points after coach Natalie Nakase inserted her into the starting five for Game 4. Angel Reese had seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists for Atlanta.

Burton said of Stokes, "We're not here without Kiah..Every single day, every single game, from the beginning. Just her veteran experience as well. It's more than just defense." Stokes said of the crowd, "I always know what I brought to a team, I always understood my value but just to hear an arena full of 18,000 fans it just really makes me feel appreciated and loved."

Stokes has now recorded at least three blocks in six straight games, a streak that matches the record set by Lisa Leslie in 2003 for a single WNBA postseason. She hit a three-pointer with 7:21 left in the fourth quarter. Golden State owner Joe Lacob said three years ago, when the expansion franchise was granted to the Bay Area, that the team would win a championship within five years.

Atlanta coach Karl Smesko addressed the Thursday start time for Game 6 at State Farm Arena: "I'd like to see it be a national holiday for all WNBA championship games so whatever somebody can do..I know that for some people it's not realistic, they have jobs and won't be able to make it. So I'm disappointed for that but I'm really hopeful that as many people can see the game as possible." Reese, after the loss, said, "I still believe in our team, I still believe we can win this."

The Dream will attempt to avoid elimination on Thursday in Atlanta. If Atlanta wins, Game 7 would be played Saturday at Chase Center.