The Atlanta Dream are playing for their first WNBA championship, but there’s one area where the Golden State Valkyries have a significant advantage.
Bench production.
During the regular season, Golden State averaged 35.9 bench points per game, compared with just 17.9 for Atlanta.
That’s an 18-point difference.
And with the Dream facing one of the deepest teams in basketball, I believe there’s one player who could become extremely important.
Isobel Borlase.
Golden State’s Depth Could Be a Problem
Golden State has built its success around defense, depth, and balanced scoring.
The Valkyries have multiple players capable of coming off the bench and making immediate contributions.
Atlanta, meanwhile, has relied heavily on its starters.
That’s worked throughout the playoffs, but Golden State presents a different challenge.
The Valkyries defeated Atlanta all three times during the regular season, and their ability to consistently rotate fresh players into games could become a major advantage.
The Dream need more production from their bench.
And that’s where Borlase comes in.
Isobel Borlase Is Emerging at the Perfect Time
Borlase averaged just 4.8 points during the regular season, but she’s beginning to make a difference when Atlanta needs her most.
Against the New York Liberty, the rookie scored 11 points in Game 2 and followed that performance with 10 points in Game 3.
Those contributions were especially important with Allisha Gray sidelined.
But here’s what I like most about Borlase.
She isn’t afraid of the moment.
She’s aggressive, confident, and increasingly comfortable playing alongside Atlanta’s established stars.
I’ve previously discussed why the Dream should prioritize Borlase’s development.
Now, her development could directly impact Atlanta’s championship chances.
Allisha Gray’s Injury Makes Borlase Even More Important
Gray participated in a full practice Friday, but her availability for Game 1 remained uncertain entering the matchup.
That’s encouraging news, but Atlanta still needs to prepare for the possibility of playing without its leading scorer.
DeWanna Bonner has already stepped into a larger role, and Jordin Canada has been outstanding throughout the postseason.
However, the Dream cannot expect their starters to carry the entire offensive load against Golden State.
Karl Smesko needs reliable contributions from his reserves.
And Borlase has demonstrated that she’s capable of providing them.
Even 8–12 points off the bench could make a significant difference in a tightly contested Finals game.
Borlase Could Be Atlanta’s Secret Weapon
Here’s my biggest takeaway.
The Atlanta Dream have enough star power to win a championship.
Angel Reese, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and DeWanna Bonner have proven that.
But Golden State has something Atlanta hasn’t consistently demonstrated.
Reliable production throughout its entire rotation.
That’s why I believe Borlase deserves meaningful minutes in this series.
The Dream don’t need her to become a superstar overnight.
They simply need her to continue making smart decisions, attacking offensively, and contributing when the starters need a break.
Because sometimes championships aren’t decided by the biggest names.
Sometimes they’re decided by the player nobody expected to make the difference.
And for the Atlanta Dream, that player could be Isobel Borlase.
