Angel Reese scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and the Atlanta Dream forced 19 turnovers to beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 in Game Two of the WNBA Finals on Monday night. The win ties the best-of-seven series at 1-1 before the series moves to Atlanta for Game Three on Thursday. The Dream led by as many as 21 points during the second half. Golden State, which won Game One on Saturday 68-64, never led by more than six. It proved a historic breakthrough for Reese and company.
Reese shot 10-of-16 from the field and 9-of-11 at the line, with four offensive rebounds and three assists. Eighteen of her points came in the paint. She was named Defensive Player of the Year this season, the first Dream player to win the award. She also set the WNBA single-season record with her 29th double-double by the end of August. Her 30 points far exceeded her regular-season scoring pace: she was averaging 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds.
“I let the team down last game,” Reese said about game one of the WNBA Finals. “So I just wanted to make sure I came out tonight and left my mark and did whatever I could to get the win. And I think I did that.”
Allisha Gray added 18 points, including three three-pointers and 7-of-8 free throws. Gray was setting a career high at 19.3 points per game. Jordin Canada had a double-double with 13 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds, despite shooting 3-of-14. DeWanna Bonner scored nine points and had four steals, and Rhyne Howard had six steals along with five points.
Atlanta turned the Valkyries’ 19 turnovers into 24 points, while Golden State scored 13 off Atlanta’s 14. The Dream also scored 19 fast-break points to Golden State’s none, and outrebounded the Valkyries 49-40. They had 17 assists to Golden State’s ten, and 14 steals to eight.
Neither team shot well. Atlanta made 21 of 62 field goals (33.9%) and Golden State 21 of 61 (34.4%). The separation came at the line, where Atlanta went 30-of-35 against Golden State’s 16-of-19, and in second-chance points, where Atlanta led 17-7. Golden State was called for 23 fouls to Atlanta’s 18.
Atlanta led 39-37 at halftime. It outscored Golden State 21-9 in the third quarter, a stretch in which the Valkyries shot poorly and committed turnovers, and built a 14-point lead. The teams then played the fourth quarter even at 19-19, so Golden State never made a real run. It was reported that during practices before the game, head coach Natalie Nakase was playing noises such as bombs and machine guns — taking after Celtics coach Joe Mazulla. However, this strategy did not work.
“We’re here to win or die,” Nakase told ESPN. One of her players, Kiah Stokes, lightheartedly called her a sicko for the mentality. When word of her practice strategy was leaked to the media, people saw how much Nakase truly cares. “People have been calling you a basketball sicko,” a reporter told Nakase. “I mean, welcome to my life,” Nakase responded. “(It’s been like that since) I was like five years old!”
That strategy and passion wasn’t enough in game two. Gabby Williams, the Valkyries’ leading scorer, finished with 14 points on 3-of-15 shooting, 7-of-7 at the line. She also had four steals and three turnovers. Williams averaged 14.4 points each fame during the regular season.
Tiffany Hayes also scored 14 on 5-of-11 shooting. Veronica Burton had 11 points and seven rebounds, and Kaila Charles added nine points with three 3-pointers. Kiah Stokes had 11 rebounds and four blocks, and Cecilia Zandalasini was 1-of-8 for five points. Golden State’s bench outscored Atlanta’s 33-11, but the Valkyries shot 7-of-24 from three.
With the series even at 1-1, the next game carries heavy weight. Game Three of the WNBA Finals on Thursday begins a stretch at State Farm Arena, where the Dream will host Game Three and, if needed, Game Four. Atlanta will try to take its first series lead and put the pressure on a Valkyries team that had control of the series after Game One.
Golden State will try to answer the way it did in Game One, by getting back to the defensive effort that held Atlanta to 64 points, and find shots for Williams and Zandalasini, who combined to shoot 4-of-23 on Monday. Whichever team wins will leave Atlanta in a commanding position, with the series either 2-1 or tied before a likely return to the Bay Area.
Both franchises are seeking a first championship. Golden State, in its second season as a team, swept the Aces in the semifinals to reach its first Finals and won all three regular-season meetings with Atlanta. Atlanta is in the Finals for the first time since 2013, after sweeping Washington in the first round and New York in the semifinals.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
