Brief

Atlanta Dream take 2-1 lead in WNBA Finals with dominant defensive win

Atlanta's size and pressure forced Golden State into a 26‑point loss, giving the Dream a 2‑1 advantage in the best‑of‑seven series.

By Felo News Desk · Published Fri, 23 Oct 2026 05:08:04 GMT

Atlanta Dream surged ahead in the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night, defeating the Golden State Valkyries 97‑71 to take a 2‑1 series lead, the Associated Press reported.

The Dream’s defensive intensity set the tone early, holding the Valkyries scoreless for the first five minutes and forcing turnovers that turned into easy layups. Guard Rhyme Howard recorded back‑to‑back games with at least five steals, while forward Isobel Borlase contributed key blocks in the third quarter. The Valkyries, who have averaged only 68 points in the series—14 points below their regular‑season average—could not recover from the early deficit.

Atlanta’s offense benefited from the pressure defense, converting steals into fast‑break points. Forward Brionna Jones led the Dream with 24 points, and Howard added 10 points along with her defensive contributions. After the win, Howard said the team was "settling in" and focusing on the moment, emphasizing that the Dream were "No. 1 in a lot of categories" and finally showing why they deserved that ranking.

Dream forward DeWanna Bonner highlighted the importance of defense, noting that the team has taken it "very serious since the FIBA break" and that when shots aren’t falling, defense becomes the fallback. She added that the Dream review game footage primarily to assess defensive performance.

Golden State’s struggles were evident beyond the scoreboard. The Valkyries admitted to being "uncharacteristically undisciplined" and cited poor communication and missed rotations as factors in their collapse, echoing earlier comments from coach Natalie Nakase about defensive lapses.

Game 4 is scheduled for Saturday, giving the Dream a chance to extend their lead and the Valkyries an opportunity to adjust their defensive approach.

Key facts

Atlanta Dream beat Golden State Valkyries 97-71 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. (winnipegfreepress.com)
The win gave Atlanta a 2-1 lead in the best‑of‑seven series. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Dream forward Brionna Jones scored 24 points; guard Rhyme Howard added 10 points and multiple steals. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Golden State averaged 68 points in the series, 14 points below their regular‑season average. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Game 4 is set for Saturday. (winnipegfreepress.com)