10/19/2026 09:47:00
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10/19 21:34 CDT Angel Reese has 30 points, 16 rebounds as Dream beat Valkyries
79-65 to even WNBA Finals at 1-1
Angel Reese has 30 points, 16 rebounds as Dream beat Valkyries 79-65 to even
WNBA Finals at 1-1
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- Angel Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Allisha Gray
added 18 points and the Atlanta Dream stymied Golden State on both ends in the
second half, beating the Valkyries 79-65 on Monday night to even the
best-of-seven WNBA Finals at one game apiece.
Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals, while Jordin Canada
contributed 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Dream earned the
franchise's first Finals victory after going winless in three previous trips
--- 0-10 overall. They now head home having salvaged a split in front of the
boisterous "Ballhalla" crowd at Chase Center.
Reese became the third player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a
Finals game, joining Jonquel Jones for Connecticut in 2019 and Breanna Stewart
for Seattle in 2020.
Game 3 is Wednesday in Atlanta, where the next two matchups were moved to the
NBA Hawks' State Farm Arena so more fans could attend. It holds more than
17,000, as opposed to the Dream's regular home, Gateway Center Arena, which
accommodates only 3,500.
Chase Center holds 18,064 and has sold out every game since the Valkyries began
playing last year.
Gabby Williams finished with 14 points on 3-for-15 shooting after she was the
only Golden State player to score in double figures with 26 points in
Saturday's 68-64 Game 1 win.
Foul trouble almost did in the Dream this time --- but Reese simply wouldn't
have it. She went scoreless in the second half of the opener but delivered the
big baskets and key defensive stops two days later, finishing 10 for 16 from
the floor while dishing out three assists and blocking two shots.
Atlanta scored 24 points off Golden State's 19 turnovers to hand the Valkyries
their first loss in regulation since a 73-70 defeat at Chicago on Aug. 21.
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See AP's full WNBA coverage here
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