Valkyries Host Dream in First WNBA Finals Game 7

80-69.

That was the final score in Atlanta on Thursday, a number that erased Golden State’s path to a four-game sweep and forced the WNBA Finals into its seventh and final contest for the first time in league history.

The league shifted to a best-of-seven format last season, replacing the best-of-five structure that had been in place since 2005. The Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury in that inaugural seven-game series, so the current tie at 3-3 marks the first time teams will play a true winner-take-all finale.

Golden State hosts the Dream at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday at Chase Center. The decision will cap the WNBA’s 30th season with the longest championship series the league has ever seen.

The series began on Oct. 17 and will conclude exactly two weeks later. The format required five cross-country trips between the teams, with Golden State hosting Games 1, 2, and 5. DeWanna Bonner, a forward for the Dream, noted the physical toll of the schedule. She said the 4.5-hour flights back and forth create a difference that players feel both mentally and physically.

Kiah Stokes, a center for the Valkyries, acknowledged the unusual length of the contest. She stated that while players often say seven games is a long series, none had actually played in one until now. She described the experience as notably long.

Both rosters contain players with previous championship experience. For Golden State, Stokes and Tiffany Hayes won three titles with the Aces. Kayla Thornton won with the New York Liberty, and Cecilia Zandalasini won with the Minnesota Lynx. For Atlanta, DeWanna Bonner and Jordin Canada have two titles each with the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough won a title with the Washington Mystics.

The series has been defined by contrasting styles. Golden State won its three games through stifling defense. Atlanta won its three games by scoring more than 70 points in each contest. In Game 7, the Valkyries must replicate their defensive intensity, while the Dream must maintain the offensive dominance they displayed in the 80-69 victory on Thursday.

Gabby Williams, the leading scorer for Golden State, said the mental aspect becomes more important as the series progresses. She noted that players grow tired of seeing the same opponents, and small details like pre-game handshakes can feel softer. Allisha Gray, who hit the final three-pointer for Atlanta on Thursday, said the team must stay poised to avoid letting the opponent win the mental battle.

Angel Reese, a forward for the Dream, emphasized the physical requirement of the final game. She said she wants to be so exhausted that she must be peeled off the court. She added that the team expects to have to fight because winning a championship is never easy.