WNBA Championship Decider Set for Halloween at Chase Center
Golden State and Atlanta meet for the first time in a seven-game Finals after Atlanta won Game 6 on Thursday.
By William Turner ·
The WNBA season extends to its final possible date on Saturday, with the Golden State Valkyries hosting the Atlanta Dream for a winner-take-all Game 7. The series, now tied at 3-3, will conclude at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center, marking the league's first championship decided in the seventh game since it adopted a best-of-seven format last season.
Atlanta secured the tie with an 80-69 victory over Golden State at State Farm Arena on Thursday. The Dream’s offense proved decisive, as the team has won every game in this series where it scored more than 70 points. In their three losses, Atlanta failed to reach that scoring threshold, while Golden State’s defense held the advantage in those contests.
Both franchises are seeking their first WNBA title. The No. 2 seed Valkyries have won two home games and one road game in the series, while the No. 4 seed Dream has gone 1-2 at home and 2-1 on the road. Golden State coach Natalie Nakase described the team’s slow start in Game 6 as "unacceptable," but guard Veronica Burton noted the squad’s ability to rally from a 25-point deficit to end within eight.
Pace of play and turnover management will define the outcome. Atlanta point guard Jordin Canada stated postgame that the team intended to push the ball and create space, a strategy that helped them build a 20-point halftime lead on Thursday. Dream coach Karl Smesko added that controlling the tempo is critical, asserting that the team has an advantage when playing at its own speed rather than Golden State’s.
Player performance will hinge on key matchups. Allisha Gray, who averaged 22.0 points in the first round before a hand injury, scored 23 points in Game 6 after struggling in the previous two losses. On the Golden State side, Kiah Stokes played limited minutes in Game 6 as coach Nakase opted for Laeticia Amihere, citing Stokes’ leg movement. Stokes, a three-time champion, faces a matchup against Angel Reese, who recorded 15 points and six assists in Thursday’s win.
Home court history favors the host in close series. Since 2005, the home team has won six of eight Game 5 deciders in the WNBA Finals. The last home team to fall in the final game was Minnesota in 2016. With both teams having won twice at home and once away in this series, the Valkyries will rely on the crowd energy at Chase Center to maintain their lead in the final minutes.
The series has been characterized by low-scoring battles where every possession carries weight. Golden State forced 10 second-half turnovers in Game 6 to spark its rally, but Atlanta’s transition game proved more effective. The Dream will look to replicate their first-quarter dominance, where they outscored Golden State 32-0 in the opening period, to set the tone for the championship game.
