Reese and the Dream Rout the Valkyries for a 2-1 Finals Lead

The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. It was the franchise’s first Finals win at home. Atlanta lost all 10 of its Finals games in three previous trips, and Monday’s Game 2 win in San Francisco had been its first. The league moved Games 3 and 4 downtown from Gateway Center Arena, the Dream’s 3,500-seat home, and Wednesday’s game drew a sellout crowd.

Golden State missed its first eight shots, and Atlanta opened on a 9-1 run. The Valkyries did not make a field goal until Aminata Gueye scored with 4:39 left in the first quarter. Golden State cut the deficit to 13-10, but Naz Hillmon made consecutive 3-pointers and Angel Reese added another, and the Dream led 23-15 after one quarter. The Valkyries’ shooting kept them close in the second quarter, with Janelle Salaün scoring 11 points in the half, and Atlanta led 46-40 at the break.