The 2026 WNBA Finals is going down to a Game 7 for the first time ever, with the Golden State Valkyries battling the Atlanta Dream in a winner-take-all showdown tonight at the Chase Center. After Atlanta’s 80-69 Game 6 win on Thursday, ESPN analyst Monica McNutt wasted no time dropping her prediction on Friday’s *First Take*, giving a slight edge to the Valkyries while pinpointing 75 points as the absolute magic number to decide this championship.
The “Magic Number” That Changes Everything
McNutt is calling it like she sees it: “This series has been incredible. I’m giving a slight advantage to the Valkyries going back home,” she said. But here’s the kicker: “I think the magic number in Game 7 is going to be 75 points.” Why 75? Because the Valkyries have an insane record, something like 22-2, when they keep opponents under 70 points, and their regular season average for holding teams was around 72. Golden State lives for those tight, defensive battles. Every single one of their wins in this series has been by the slimmest margins. On the flip side, Atlanta? They’ve been winning when they hit that 75-point mark or higher. This number isn’t just a guess; it’s a make-or-break line for both squads.
Atlanta’s Pace and Stokes’ Challenge
Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko clearly understands the assignment. McNutt gave him major props for realizing the importance of pace, making key adjustments that propelled Atlanta to that Game 6 victory. He was heard on a timeout call, emphasizing that the Dream’s strength is getting up and down the floor. They’ve got firepower, running a top five offense and defense all season, and when they play fast and score over 75 points, McNutt thinks they can absolutely “steal this one back out in Golden State.” That’s exactly what went down in Game 6. The Dream exploded out of the gate, taking a massive 32-15 lead in the first quarter and pushing it to as many as 25 points. The Valkyries tried to claw back, but the gap was just too big. Now, Golden State needs to leverage that home court advantage. Atlanta, though, is riding high on that Game 6 confidence. Valkyries center Kiah Stokes is another massive piece of this puzzle. McNutt called her a true X-factor, especially after her “tremendous” performance in Game 5, which even had her in the Finals MVP conversation after Games 4 and 5. But Game 6 was a different story. Stokes was limited to a postseason-low 20 minutes, went scoreless, grabbed seven boards, and had a single steal, totally missing her usual defensive rhythm. If Golden State wants to hoist that trophy, Stokes has to get back to that disruptive, dominant form she showed earlier in the series. She’s the anchor, and her presence needs to be felt when everything is on the line.
Game 7 is scheduled for tonight at 8:00 PM at the Chase Center. This is it. No second chances.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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