WNBA Finals: Dream force history with 3-3 tie before Game 7 in San Francisco

The 2026 WNBA Finals will feature a seventh game for the first time in league history. The Atlanta Dream forced the tie on Friday by defeating the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 in Game 6. This result sets the stage for a decisive contest on Saturday, October 31, in San Francisco.

Atlanta controlled the early stages of Game 6 with a 32-point first quarter. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard combined for 44 points. Angel Reese contributed 15 points and 14 rebounds. Golden State struggled from the perimeter, shooting 26 percent from three-point range and 31 percent from the field overall.

The Valkyries enter the final game with the best defensive record in the league. They allowed opponents to score just 75.1 points per game during the regular season. This figure was 7.6 points lower than the Washington Mystics, who ranked second. Golden State also led the league in limiting opponent field goal percentage, three-point percentage, and assists.

Atlanta counters with the league's top team in forcing turnovers. The Dream ranked second in rebounds allowed per game, aided by Reese, the current Defensive Player of the Year. Both teams have maintained strong defensive standards throughout the playoffs. Every Golden State victory in this series has come by a margin of fewer than 10 points. All Atlanta wins have been by double-digit scores.

Gabby Williams has averaged a career-high 14.4 points per game in her first season with Golden State. Her average rose to 17.8 points in the Finals. She scored 26 points in Game 6 on 8-for-22 shooting. Tiffany Hayes added 15 points. The Valkyries will need improved performances from Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini, who shot 2-for-13 and 3-for-12 respectively in the previous game.

Reese set a career high of 16.4 points per game in the postseason while maintaining her rebounding efficiency. The Dream have not lost a game in this series when Reese hits a three-point shot. She has recorded at least 12 rebounds in five of the six games played. The only exception was a nine-rebound performance.

DraftKings lists the Valkyries as -1.5 point favorites. The total for the game is set at 143.5 points. The money line odds are -108 for the Dream and -112 for the Valkyries. Neither team has previously won a WNBA title. A Golden State victory would make them the quickest expansion team to claim the championship.