SAN FRANCISCO: Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79–65 on Monday in their first Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals win. The result levelled the best-of-seven series at 1–1.
Angel Reese led Atlanta with 30 points and 16 rebounds. After a close first half, the Dream took control through a sustained run across the third and fourth quarters.
Atlanta led 39–37 at halftime before outscoring Golden State 30–8 during a decisive 13-minute spell. Reese contributed nine points during that stretch. “She just came out on a mission tonight,” teammate Allisha Gray said.
Reese, 24, wanted to respond after Atlanta’s 68–64 defeat in Saturday’s opener. She felt she had contributed too little in the second half and approached the rematch determined to make a greater impact.
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The league’s defensive player of the year joined Atlanta from Chicago Sky before this season. Meanwhile, Gabby Williams finished with 14 points for Golden State, but the hosts could not contain Atlanta’s second-half attack.
Before Monday, the Dream had lost all 10 of their Finals games. Their previous appearances ended in three-game sweeps in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
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The series now moves to State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Game 3 takes place on Wednesday, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.
