Golden State Valkyries Need One Win After 64-55 Victory Over Atlanta

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in San Francisco on Monday night, moving within one victory of their first WNBA championship. The franchise, which is in its second season, secured the win with a defensive performance that held the Dream to 29.2 percent field goal shooting. That mark is the fourth lowest recorded by a team in any WNBA Finals game.

Kiah Stokes led the effort with 13 points, a number that tied her season high. Her scoring output was the second highest of her playoff career. Stokes also made three 3-pointers, a total that matched or exceeded her season totals in six of her 11 years in the league. The Valkyries' 64 points were the fewest in a Finals victory since 2005.

Golden State controlled the game through its interior defense. The team forced 17 turnovers and converted them into 21 points. They also limited Atlanta to 18 points in the paint. The lead swelled to 16 points late in the fourth quarter before the final score was set.

Stokes has recorded at least three blocks in six consecutive games. This streak matches the longest single-season playoff record held by Lisa Leslie. Her presence on the floor has altered the Dream's shooting metrics. Atlanta has shot just 9-for-48 from the field and 0-for-8 from deep when Stokes contests shots.

The defense also constrained Atlanta star Angel Reese. After scoring 51 points across Games 2 and 3, Reese managed only 7 points on Monday. This marks the second time in her career that she has been held to single digits in consecutive games.

Coach Natalie Nakase praised Stokes' contribution during the postgame interview. Nakase stated that Stokes would be the team's MVP if the Valkyries win the title. Veronica Burton added that the team would not be in the championship position without Stokes. The players received chants for Most Valuable Player from the crowd at Chase Center.

Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the difficulty of stopping Stokes. He noted her length and instincts for protecting the rim. Smesko said the team needs to move Stokes around more to make it harder for her to stay in the paint. He credited her for the impact she had on the game.

The Valkyries can clinch the series with a win on Thursday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. A second win on Saturday back in San Francisco would also end the series. Stokes said the team will not treat Game 6 as an opportunity to relax. She described the mindset as do or die.