Everything comes down to Saturday night. The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries are preparing for a winner-take-all Game 7, and the stakes have never been higher. For the first time in WNBA Finals history, the championship will be decided in a seventh game.
Both franchises are chasing their first championship. One team will make history, while the other will have to live with coming one win short. With the entire season on the line, this could become the most important game the WNBA has ever seen.
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And all eyes will be on Angel Reese.
Reese has been one of the biggest talking points throughout the Finals, facing plenty of criticism over her shooting and performances in recent games. But while the doubters have been loud, she continues to find ways to impact winning.
In Game 6, with Atlanta facing elimination, Reese recorded 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists to help the Dream secure an 80-69 victory. She also made history, setting a new WNBA Finals single-series rebounding record with 78 boards.
Now she has an opportunity to deliver the biggest performance of her young career.
Reese has made it clear that Atlanta needs to set the tone early. After Game 6, she emphasized the importance of the team’s mentality, saying, “When we can punch first, we’ve won every single game.”
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That’s exactly what the Dream will need against a Golden State team playing in front of its home crowd at Chase Center. The Valkyries have the opportunity to win their first championship in just their second season, while Atlanta is trying to finally finish the job after reaching the Finals for the first time since 2013.
For Reese, this is about more than just a championship. It’s an opportunity to answer the criticism, deliver on the biggest stage, and show everyone why she belongs among the league’s biggest stars.
