Road Win Over Valkyries

Dream Even WNBA Finals with Dominant 79-65 Game 2

The Atlanta Dream secured their first victory in a WNBA Finals game, defeating the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 on the road Monday night at Chase Center to knot the best-of-seven series at 1-1.

Angel Reese powered the win with a monster performance of 30 points on 10-of-16 shooting (including 1-of-1 from three), 16 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Allisha Gray added 18 points (with three threes), and Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists. It marked the Dream’s first Finals win in franchise history.40

The Valkyries had taken Game 1 68-64 on Saturday behind a late defensive stand and Gabby Williams’ 26 points. In Game 2, Golden State’s vaunted defense could not contain Reese or Atlanta’s transition attack. The Dream generated 19 fast-break points to Golden State’s zero, using steals and rebounding to push the pace and exploit their athleticism.35

Atlanta trailed early but seized control in the third quarter. Reese was the catalyst, and Canada’s half-court three at the buzzer gave the Dream a 60-46 lead heading into the fourth—the largest margin of the series to that point. They stretched the advantage further and closed out the game, outscoring Golden State 21-9 in the third while limiting the Valkyries to inefficient shooting.

Williams led Golden State with 14 points but shot just 3-of-15 from the field. Kiah Stokes had 11 rebounds and four blocks, and Veronica Burton scored 11, but the Valkyries struggled to generate consistent offense against Atlanta’s pressure.

Both teams are chasing their first WNBA championship. The Dream, who added Reese before the season and advanced past the Mystics and Liberty, rediscovered their identity after a quiet Game 1. The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Wednesday (Oct. 21) at 8 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena, followed by Game 4 on Saturday.29

With home-court momentum and a motivated Reese, the Dream have positioned themselves for a long series. The Valkyries will look to reassert their defensive identity and reestablish control when the series returns to San Francisco if it goes the distance.

CJ Johnson: Tee Johnson is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of AtlantaFi.com, Atlanta’s independent hyper-local publication focused on news, restaurants, events, jobs, neighborhoods, and lifestyle. A 15+ year Atlanta resident and longtime journalist and content creator, she covers Travel News, Events, Business, Hair Care, and Money with a practical, Atlanta-first lens. Before launching the site, Johnson worked as a substitute teacher in Atlanta Public Schools and later in corporate roles at Home Depot’s Vinings offices. A marketer by training with a degree in business management, she grew frustrated with the fragmented, hard-to-find information about what was actually happening in the city. That gap led her to create AtlantaFi as a curated, one-stop resource for the pulse of Atlanta—#ATLHAPS—without the national noise. Editorial decisions remain independent; the publication does not accept products, meals, or services in exchange for coverage. As Editor-in-Chief, she oversees original local reporting and curated practical guides that help residents, visitors, and businesses discover and engage with the city. Readers turn to her work for timely event roundups, dining and neighborhood insights, business and travel updates, and straightforward money and lifestyle coverage grounded in firsthand observation of Atlanta. A devoted lover of all things Atlanta, Tee enjoys pickleball, a good margarita or bourbon, and walking the Atlanta Beltline. She can be reached for editorial inquiries at tjohnson@atlantafi.com (serious inquiries only).
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