Angel Reese makes more Finals history as Atlanta’s defense overwhelms Golden State before a sold-out crowd at State Farm Arena.

By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | October 22, 2026

The Atlanta Dream are two victories away from their first WNBA championship.

Behind another dominant performance from Angel Reese, record-setting defense from Rhyne Howard and a decisive second-half surge, Atlanta defeated the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 Wednesday night at State Farm Arena to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals.

The 97 points established a new franchise record for the most points scored by the Dream in a Finals game.

For a team that entered this championship series without a single Finals victory in its history, Atlanta has now won two consecutive games by double digits.

Reese led the Dream with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals, continuing a remarkable postseason run that has placed her among the youngest players to achieve several WNBA Finals milestones.

Howard added 16 points, four assists and five steals, becoming the first player in WNBA Finals history to record at least five steals in consecutive championship games.

Atlanta’s defense held Golden State to 34.8 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers, converting those mistakes into 22 points.

The Dream shot 49.3 percent from the field and outscored the Valkyries 51-31 in the second half.

But the story was about more than statistics.

It was also about a sold-out Atlanta crowd that turned State Farm Arena into a celebration of women’s basketball and a franchise moving closer to its first championship.

Reese Continues Historic Finals Performance

Reese has emerged as one of the defining players of the championship series.

After recording 14 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1 and 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, she delivered another double-double Wednesday night.

Her 21-point, 12-rebound performance made her the youngest player in WNBA history to record double-doubles in three consecutive Finals games.

She also became the youngest player to score at least 20 points and collect at least 10 rebounds in consecutive Finals games.

Her contributions extended beyond scoring and rebounding. Reese’s defensive pressure, ability to run the floor and leadership helped Atlanta regain control when Golden State threatened to take over in the third quarter.

“Angel shows up in every game,” teammate Naz Hillmon said. “She brings her teammates along, and that’s exactly what happened today.”

Reese credited the home crowd for helping energize the team.

“Our fans showed up in every single possession,” Reese said. “I thought Ballhalla was loud, but Atlanta, y’all came out … Saturday, y’all better run it back.”

Third-Quarter Surge Changes the Game

Atlanta opened the game with suffocating defense.

Golden State did not score until a free throw with 5:07 remaining in the first quarter. The Dream built a 23-15 lead before the Valkyries began finding their offensive rhythm.

By halftime, Atlanta held a narrow 46-40 advantage.

Golden State came out aggressively in the third quarter, eventually tying the game at 49 with 7:45 remaining.

For a moment, the momentum appeared to be shifting.

Dream head coach Karl Smesko considered calling a timeout but noticed his players communicating with one another about their mistakes and how to correct them.

He allowed them to work through the situation.

The decision paid off.

Atlanta responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by Reese grabbing a defensive rebound and driving the length of the court for a layup that brought the crowd to its feet.

Golden State managed to narrow the margin again, but Atlanta answered with another offensive surge.

DeWanna Bonner connected from three-point range, Isobel Borlase scored inside, and the Dream’s defense continued creating opportunities.

Borlase and Howard blocked shots on consecutive possessions, drawing another roar from the crowd.

Atlanta closed the third quarter with a 12-2 run, building a 71-57 lead entering the final period.

“We want to be the best third quarter team coming out at halftime because I think that takes their confidence,” Reese said. “It puts them away.”

She acknowledged that Atlanta’s start to the period had been far from ideal.

“We didn’t start great in the third quarter, at all, but we definitely finished it well,” Reese said.

Howard Makes Defensive History

Howard’s performance added another milestone to Atlanta’s championship run.

With five steals Wednesday, she became the first player in WNBA Finals history to record at least five steals in consecutive games.

The achievement followed her six-steal performance in Game 2, when Atlanta defeated Golden State 79-65 to earn the franchise’s first Finals victory.

Howard’s defensive activity repeatedly disrupted the Valkyries’ offense, creating turnovers and opportunities for the Dream to score in transition.

She also contributed 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and one blocked shot.

Her 11th point of the game moved her into third place on Atlanta’s all-time postseason scoring list.

The defensive effort reflected the identity Atlanta developed throughout the regular season, when Howard, Reese and Jordin Canada finished first, third and second, respectively, in the WNBA in steals per game.

All three recently earned All-Defensive Team honors, with Reese and Howard named to the First Team and Canada selected to the Second Team.

Their ability to pressure opponents has become one of Atlanta’s greatest strengths.

A Complete Team Effort

Although Reese and Howard produced the headline performances, Atlanta received important contributions throughout its lineup.

Hillmon scored 15 points, while rookie Isobel Borlase added 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot.

Canada finished with 10 points, six rebounds and eight assists, helping direct Atlanta’s offense while contributing to the team’s defensive pressure.

Canada also became the Dream’s all-time postseason assists leader after recording her fifth assist of the night.

Borlase continued building her own postseason résumé. She moved into third place in franchise history for postseason assists by a rookie, tied the franchise rookie postseason scoring record and became the team’s rookie postseason rebounding leader.

Allisha Gray contributed eight points and six assists, while veteran DeWanna Bonner added seven points and four rebounds.

Atlanta’s starting lineup of Canada, Gray, Howard, Hillmon and Reese improved to 5-1 in the postseason.

The balanced production allowed the Dream to maintain their intensity even as Golden State attempted to adjust its defense.

Atlanta Pulls Away in Fourth Quarter

The Dream carried their third-quarter momentum into the final period.

Howard’s defensive pressure continued to create problems for Golden State. After recording another steal and drawing a foul while attempting a layup, she converted two free throws to extend Atlanta’s lead to 80-60.

The Valkyries could not mount another comeback.

Atlanta continued to attack offensively while limiting Golden State’s scoring opportunities.

The Dream scored 26 points in the fourth quarter, compared with 14 for the Valkyries.

By the final minutes, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Atlanta had turned a six-point halftime advantage into a 26-point victory.

A City Embraces Its Championship Contender

Wednesday’s victory carried special meaning for a franchise making its first WNBA Finals appearance since 2013.

The Dream previously reached the championship series in 2010, 2011 and 2013 but were swept in all three appearances.

Atlanta lost Game 1 of this year’s Finals, extending its championship-game losing streak to 10.

The Dream ended that streak Monday in San Francisco with a 79-65 victory.

Two nights later, Atlanta delivered another convincing performance, this time before its home fans.

The sold-out State Farm Arena crowd provided a backdrop for a franchise that has spent years working to return to the WNBA’s biggest stage.

The Dream now have an opportunity to move within one victory of a championship when the series resumes Saturday in Atlanta.

Game 4 is scheduled for October 24 at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Despite the excitement surrounding his team’s performance, Smesko reminded everyone that the championship remains unfinished.

“We’re only halfway home,” Smesko said. “We have two wins. We need two more.”

For the Atlanta Dream, the journey from a franchise without a Finals victory to a team leading the championship series has been remarkable.

But the ultimate prize remains ahead. Atlanta is two victories away from becoming a WNBA champion for the first time.

WNBA Finals game against the Golden State Valkyries all photos courtesy of the Atlanta Dream (Casey Sykes)

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