The Atlanta Dream are NOT going home!
With their season on the line, the Dream delivered one of their most impressive performances of the year, defeating the Golden State Valkyries 80–69 in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals.
And honestly, this was exactly the response Atlanta needed.
After losing two consecutive games and watching its offense completely fall apart, the Dream came out with an entirely different level of intensity.
Allisha Gray finished with 23 points, Rhyne Howard added 21, and Angel Reese delivered another double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
Now?
The WNBA Finals are officially tied 3–3.
And the Atlanta Dream are just ONE victory away from winning their first championship in franchise history.
Allisha Gray Delivered When Atlanta Needed Her Most
Let’s talk about Allisha Gray.
Because I genuinely believe she deserves an enormous amount of credit for what happened Thursday afternoon.
Gray has been battling a shooting-hand injury throughout the Finals, and her offensive production had suffered tremendously.
But with Atlanta facing elimination?
She delivered 23 points while knocking down five of her seven three-point attempts.
That’s the Allisha Gray we’ve been waiting to see.
And here’s what impressed me most.
She didn’t hesitate.
Gray attacked offensively, knocked down open shots, and helped Atlanta establish an early lead that Golden State never overcame.
She also connected on a crucial three-pointer late in the fourth quarter when the Valkyries were attempting a comeback.
That’s what championship players do.
They deliver when their team needs them most.
Atlanta Finally Found Its Offense
Here’s the statistic that really caught my attention.
The Dream scored 32 points in the FIRST QUARTER.
Think about that.
Atlanta scored just 55 points during its entire Game 5 loss.
And on Thursday, the Dream nearly matched that total by halftime, entering the break with a commanding 46–26 advantage.
Atlanta connected on six of its first eight three-point attempts and finished the game shooting 13-of-30 from beyond the arc.
That’s 43.3%.
And it completely changed the game.
Golden State could no longer pack the paint and focus exclusively on Angel Reese.
The Valkyries had to respect Atlanta’s perimeter shooting.
And when the Dream are knocking down shots from outside?
This offense becomes incredibly difficult to stop.
Angel Reese Continues Making a HUGE Impact
Now, we have to give Angel Reese her flowers.
After struggling offensively in Games 4 and 5, Reese responded with another double-double.
She finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists.
But here’s what I loved most.
Reese knocked down two three-pointers.
That’s an important development.
Throughout this series, Golden State has made life difficult for Reese around the basket.
But when she can step outside and knock down perimeter shots, it forces defenders to make difficult decisions.
I’ve previously discussed why Reese deserves to be the cornerstone of Atlanta’s franchise.
And Thursday was another example of her ability to impact winning in multiple ways.
Reese doesn’t have to score 30 points for Atlanta to win.
She simply needs to continue dominating the glass, creating opportunities, and making defenses respect her offensive game.
Rhyne Howard Was Outstanding Again
Here’s another player who deserves recognition.
Rhyne Howard finished with 21 points and four assists, connecting on four three-pointers.
Howard has been one of Atlanta’s most consistent performers throughout this championship series.
And Thursday was no different.
She attacked offensively, helped establish Atlanta’s early momentum, and continued providing valuable defensive pressure.
But here’s what makes this Dream team so dangerous.
Atlanta doesn’t need one player to carry the entire offense.
When Gray, Howard, and Reese are all contributing, Golden State has a much more difficult time defending this roster.
That’s the version of the Atlanta Dream that can win a championship.
One More Win for Atlanta
Here’s my biggest takeaway.
The Atlanta Dream have officially forced a winner-take-all Game 7.
And while Thursday’s victory was impressive, there’s still work to do.
Golden State made a late push, cutting Atlanta’s lead to eight points before Gray knocked down a crucial three-pointer.
The Dream cannot afford to become comfortable in Game 7.
They need to maintain the same offensive aggression, defensive intensity, and balanced scoring that helped them win Thursday.
Game 7 takes place Saturday, October 31, at 8 p.m. ET in San Francisco.
One game.
One opportunity.
One championship.
The Atlanta Dream have never won a WNBA title.
Now they’re just 40 minutes away from potentially changing that forever.
And after watching Thursday’s performance, I genuinely believe this team has what it takes to finish the job.
