Expansion teams aren't supposed to do this. In only their second season, the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night. They now lead the series 3-2 and are one win from a championship.
It was a defensive grind, and two players did the damage at both ends. Kiah Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and three 3-pointers. Those 13 points tied her season high, and the threes were a playoff career best. It was also her sixth straight playoff game with at least three blocks, which ties the longest streak in league history. Veronica Burton nearly matched her with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini added 12 each.
Atlanta's star Angel Reese struggled to find her rhythm. She finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists, and picked up three offensive fouls. The Dream turned it over 17 times, and Golden State scored 21 points off those mistakes. The game was tight at halftime, 25-22, before the Valkyries opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run and never really let go.
More than 18,000 fans packed Chase Center in San Francisco, the violet-clad crowd the team calls "Ballhalla."
Next up is Game 6 in Atlanta on Thursday, October 29, at 12:30 p.m. ET (11:30 a.m. Central). The league moved it to the bigger State Farm Arena so more fans could get in. If Atlanta wins, Game 7 is back in San Francisco on Saturday.