Angel Reese, Atlanta Dream fall short in Game 7 as Golden State Valkyries win first WNBA championship

SAN FRANCISCO – Angel Reese scored one point and did not attempt a field goal in the fourth quarter of Game 7. The Atlanta Dream needed more from her with a championship on the line.

The Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta 68-63 on Saturday night at Chase Center, winning the best-of-seven WNBA Finals 4-3 to claim the franchise’s first championship.

Reese finished with eight points on 3-for-7 shooting, 12 rebounds and four turnovers. It was her fourth consecutive game with more turnovers than made field goals. Across those four games, she shot 12-for-45 (26.7%) and committed 19 turnovers.

USA SPORTS, NBC CLAIM RECORD WNBA FINALS RATINGS, BUT COMPARISONS LEAVE OUT IMPORTANT CONTEXT

Golden State guard Gabby Williams delivered the performance Atlanta needed from its star. She was named Finals MVP after scoring 30 points, including 28 in the second half, and blocking four shots in the clincher. Her 31-foot three-pointer with 2:18 remaining broke a 57-57 tie and put Golden State ahead for good.

Reese’s only point in the final period came on a free throw with 18.6 seconds remaining.

Before tipoff, both teams again left the court for the national anthem, completing the seven-game series without appearing on the floor for any of the performances.

WNBA FINALS TEAMS END SEASON WITH ONE FINAL NATIONAL ANTHEM SNUB AS DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT

Reese’s Finals had looked much different when Atlanta held a 2-1 series lead.

She combined for 51 points and 28 rebounds in Games 2 and 3, then explained how she believed she was getting into Golden State’s head.

"They’re playing into my mental game where I can take their confidence and just try to do whatever to mess them up," Reese said before Game 4.

The Valkyries won the next two games. Atlanta forced Game 7 with an 80-69 victory Thursday behind Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard’s combined 44 points, but Reese continued to struggle with her shooting, making five of 18 attempts.

She finished the final four games with 38 points, 13 fewer than she scored in Games 2 and 3 combined.

Saturday offered a chance to finish the series differently. Instead, Jordin Canada carried Atlanta’s offense for much of the night, while Reese never became a scoring factor down the stretch.

The Dream went scoreless for the first 5:19 as Golden State built an 8-0 lead. Reese finally put Atlanta on the board with a basket off an offensive rebound.

Atlanta recovered to trail just 14-12 after one quarter, and Reese’s three-pointer early in the second gave the Dream their first lead.

Canada scored 11 points in the second quarter and had 13 at halftime. Golden State went more than eight minutes without a field goal to begin the period, allowing Atlanta to take a 30-24 lead into the break.

Reese had five points, seven rebounds and three turnovers at halftime. Williams had just two points.

The Dream extended their lead to 37-28 midway through the third quarter. Then Williams took over.

She scored Golden State’s final 13 points of the period, including three three-pointers in a 56-second span. Reese answered one of those threes with a hook through contact, but missed the accompanying free throw. It was her last basket of the night.

Williams’ turnaround jumper with 1:05 remaining gave the Valkyries a 45-44 lead entering the fourth. She scored 15 points in the quarter and added 13 more in the final period.

Allisha Gray’s two free throws tied the game at 55 with 3:15 left. Williams answered with a driving layup. Howard tied it again at 57 before Williams buried the three from 31 feet.

After Gray missed a wide-open layup, Williams made two free throws to push Golden State’s lead to five with 1:40 remaining.

Kiah Stokes then delivered on the offensive glass. She rebounded two consecutive Williams misses, converting the second into a putback that stretched the lead to 64-57 with 53.8 seconds left.

Gray’s three-pointer brought Atlanta within four, but Tiffany Hayes answered with two free throws.

Reese grabbed an offensive rebound and drew a foul with 18.6 seconds remaining. She missed the first free throw and made the second, leaving Atlanta down five.

She then stole a Williams pass, and Gray made two free throws to cut the deficit to 66-63 with 10.5 seconds left. Veronica Burton’s two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining secured the victory.

Stokes finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Burton added 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Hayes scored 11.

Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, and Gray added 16. Howard finished with six points on 3-for-14 shooting, missing all seven of her three-point attempts. The Dream shot 33.3% overall and went 6-for-30 from beyond the arc.

Reese finished the series averaging 14.7 points and 12.9 rebounds while shooting 40.5% from the field.

After Game 3, she had explained how she measures greatness.

"I think you become one of the greats … when you can win and impact winning," Reese said.

She helped put Atlanta two wins from a championship. Across the final four games, she didn't do enough for the Dream to finish the job.