Dominant Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream Blitz Golden State Valkyries 95-71 to Take 2-1 WNBA Finals Lead

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ATLANTA — Returning home to State Farm Arena for the first WNBA Finals game in Atlanta since 2013, the Atlanta Dream unleashed an offensive breakout to overwhelm the Golden State Valkyries 95-71 in Game 3, taking a 2-1 series lead.

Reese Delivers Another Double-Double as Dream Offense Awakens

After struggling through an offensive slump in a Game 1 loss and relying heavily on Angel Reese’s historic interior effort and 35 team free-throw attempts to steal Game 2 on the road, Atlanta’s offense finally clicked at home. Reese spearheaded the attack with another double-double performance, dropping 21 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists while going a perfect 2-for-2 from three-point range. Unlike the opening two games in the Bay Area where Reese shouldered the scoring burden almost entirely, the star forward received vital support from guard Rhyne Howard, who poured in 16 points, and forward Naz Hillmon, who chipped in 15 points. Point guard Jordin Canada set a blistering tempo in transition as the Dream converted 17 Golden State turnovers into 22 points.

A post with guard skills ✨

Angel Reese caps off a 8-0 run by ATL by taking it coast-to-coast in transition to force the timeout call https://t.co/gucDY95TAG

— WNBA (@WNBA) October 22, 2026

Valkyries’ First-Quarter Nightmare and Scoring Droughts Continue

Scoring execution has been a season-long issue for head coach Natalie Nakase’s Golden State Valkyries, but the WNBA Finals have magnified those struggles. Paradoxically, Golden State’s 71 points in Game 3 marked their highest single-game scoring output of the entire series. The offensive collapse began on the game’s opening possessions, as the Valkyries went empty on nine consecutive trips down the floor. Starters Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, and center Kiah Stokes were held scoreless for almost the entire opening period until Williams finally sank a late three-pointer with under 30 seconds remaining in the quarter. Off the bench, Cecilia Zandalasini offered a rare bright spot by going 4-for-5 from behind the arc alongside forward Janelle Salaün, but Golden State’s early drought created a deep deficit they were never able to erase.

The Game-Breaking Third-Quarter Surge

Golden State fought back to tie the game at 49-49 midway through the third quarter, but Atlanta immediately countered with the game-breaking run of the night. Reese triggered an 8-0 burst with four straight points to regain a lead the Dream would never surrender. After Hayes drove for a layup to cut Atlanta’s lead to 59-55, the Dream closed the third quarter on a decisive 12-2 run. The signature play came early in the fourth quarter when Canada overthrew a fast-break pass to Reese, who acrobatically saved the ball over her head while falling under the rim to hit Howard for a foul and a bucket. The sequence brought the crowd of 17,099 to its feet and sealed the victory, placing Atlanta just two wins away from capturing the franchise’s first WNBA championship.

Stay tuned to NGSC Sports for live updates, locker room reactions, and full coverage of Game 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals.