The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday, 29 October 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The win tied the best-of-seven series 3-3 and forced the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, to be played on Saturday, 31 October, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State had arrived in Atlanta one win from its first championship, as set out in the WNBA Finals Game 6 preview. Instead, Atlanta turned a lunchtime tip-off into a rout, then held off a late Valkyries rally to keep its own first-title hopes alive.
A first quarter that decided the night
Atlanta scored 32 points in the first quarter and led 32-15, the largest first-quarter lead in WNBA Finals history. The Dream made six three-pointers in the opening period and never trailed again.
Golden State managed only 26 points in the entire first half, and Atlanta took a 20-point lead into half-time. That margin was tied for the fourth largest half-time lead in Finals history, and Atlanta stretched its advantage to 25 points in the third quarter.
| Quarter | Atlanta Dream | Golden State Valkyries |
|---|---|---|
| First | 32 | 15 |
| Second | 14 | 11 |
| Half-time | 46 | 26 |
| Third | 17 | 21 |
| Fourth | 17 | 22 |
| Final | 80 | 69 |
Gray, Howard and Reese delivered when elimination loomed
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including five three-pointers, and added six rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks. Rhyne Howard, who had been in a shooting slump, scored 21 points with four three-pointers.
Angel Reese recorded a double-double with 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists, and was named Defensive Player of the Year. Jordin Canada added 10 points as Atlanta put four players in double figures.
| Player | Team | Points | Other key numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allisha Gray | Atlanta Dream | 23 | 5 three-pointers, 6 rebounds |
| Rhyne Howard | Atlanta Dream | 21 | 4 three-pointers |
| Angel Reese | Atlanta Dream | 15 | 14 rebounds, 6 assists |
| Gabby Williams | Golden State Valkyries | 26 | 22 points in the second half |
| Tiffany Hayes | Golden State Valkyries | 15 | 6-of-10 shooting |
Williams kept Golden State alive late
Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26 points, including 22 after half-time and 10 straight points in the fourth quarter. Her late surge cut Atlanta’s lead to eight points, but Gray answered with a three-pointer with about a minute left to put the game away.
Golden State finished shooting 22-of-70 from the field (31 percent) and 7-of-27 from three-point range (26 percent). Atlanta shot 12-of-30 from deep, and the NBC Sports Game 6 recap notes the Dream held off the Valkyries’ late rally after leading by as many as 25 points.
Why Saturday is historic
No WNBA Finals had ever reached a Game 7 before Thursday, because the championship series expanded to a best-of-seven format only in 2025. Both finalists are still seeking their first WNBA championship, so Saturday will crown a first-time winner either way.
The CNN report on Game 6 notes the same stakes: a winner-takes-all finale in San Francisco, after a series in which neither side has won two games in a row since Atlanta’s back-to-back wins in Games 2 and 3. Golden State, in only its second season, will have home court for the decider.
| Detail | Game 7 information |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, 31 October 2026 |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Chase Center, San Francisco |
| TV / streaming | USA Network and Peacock |
| Series | Tied 3-3 |
How the series reached a decider
Atlanta won Games 2 and 3 to lead 2-1, before Golden State won Games 4 and 5 to move within one win of the title. Thursday’s result reset the series completely, with one game left and no margin for either team.
| Game | Result | Series |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Valkyries 68, Dream 64 | Golden State 1-0 |
| Game 2 | Dream 79, Valkyries 65 | Tied 1-1 |
| Game 3 | Dream 97, Valkyries 71 | Atlanta 2-1 |
| Game 4 | Valkyries 67, Dream 62 | Tied 2-2 |
| Game 5 | Valkyries 64, Dream 55 | Golden State 3-2 |
| Game 6 | Dream 80, Valkyries 69 | Tied 3-3 |
| Game 7 | Saturday, 31 October, San Francisco | Winner takes the title |
Atlanta’s early tip-off also drew attention: the game started at 12:30 p.m. ET because State Farm Arena had to be turned around for the Atlanta Hawks’ evening game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Dream made the unusual hour irrelevant within one quarter, and now the series returns to prime time for its first ever winner-takes-all game.
