It all comes down to Saturday night in San Francisco: Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. One franchise, either the Golden State Valkyries or the Atlanta Dream, is about to make history and claim their very first championship. It’s the first Game 7 in WNBA history, so you know the stakes could not be higher.
The Dream Forced This, But Don’t Count Out the Valkyries Just Yet
The Atlanta Dream, led by Angel Reese, are the reason we’re even here. They absolutely dominated in Game 6 on Thursday, jumping out to a massive 25-point lead in the first half at State Farm Arena. They ultimately held on for an 11-point win, 80-69, to force this winner-take-all showdown. But don’t let that final score fool you. The Golden State Valkyries, and their star Gabby Williams, showed serious fight. They won the second half by nine points, chipping away at that huge Dream lead and cutting it down to nine with just over a minute to play. That kind of comeback, even in a loss, tells you everything you need to know about the mental toughness these teams are playing with.
This Series Has Been Ugly, Yet Absolutely Compelling
Let’s be real, this hasn’t been a series of “beautiful basketball.” The shooting numbers are, frankly, brutal. The Valkyries are hitting a measly 34.5% from the field and 26.4% from three. The Dream aren’t much better, averaging 37.2% and 28.5% respectively. Yikes. But you know what? That’s what makes it so darn compelling. This WNBA Finals has been an incredible showcase of defense and pure mental fortitude, aspects of the game that often get overlooked. Both teams have been punched, counted out, and had to claw their way back. Momentum has shifted back and forth like a pendulum, only to be halted again and again. Their unity, self-belief, confidence, and grit have gotten them to this do-or-die game.
After the Valkyries lost Game 6, Veronica Burton didn’t hold back. “My body language is bad. But at the end of the day, we feel good. Yes, we lost. It was a bad game for us. We had a terrible first quarter. We cleaned it up. We found a way. We didn’t quit,” Burton said in the press conference. “Games… 2 and 3 were ugly. We quit. We looked bad, and we didn’t quit on this one.” That’s real talk, and it tells you they’re ready to leave it all on the court. On Saturday, both teams face elimination. You better believe urgency will permeate every single pass, every possession, every heart-pounding moment.
Who Takes the Crown on Saturday Night?
It truly feels like a toss-up. It’s tempting to lean towards the Valkyries with that raucous home crowd at Ballhalla. Lindsay Gibbs is still backing Atlanta, even with Golden State’s home-court advantage, while Jack Maloney is riding with the Valkyries. Earlier in the series, Angel Reese was practically willing the Dream to wins in Game 2 and 3, even after what was described as a lackluster start to her series, and playoffs as a whole. Now, it’s about who can finish. One game. One championship. Saturday night is going to be electric.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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