Dream beat Valkyries 97-71 for 2-1 WNBA Finals lead after Reese's 30-point Game 2
In short
Angel Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 in San Francisco to level the best-of-seven WNBA Finals at 1-1. It was the franchise's first Finals win. Later reports said the Dream then beat the Valkyries 97-71 to lead the series 2-1.
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The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 on Monday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, evening the best-of-seven WNBA Finals at one game apiece. Angel Reese scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. Newsweek said she made 10 of 16 field goals and 9 of 11 free throws, and Fox News said she added 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Allisha Gray added 18 points, and Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds. Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals. The Boston Globe said the Dream earned the franchise's first Finals victory after going winless in three previous trips. Newsweek said Atlanta was swept in best-of-five series in 2010, 2011 and 2013, and Fox News said the Dream lost Saturday's opener to fall to 0-10 in championship series games. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The Boston Globe said Reese became the third player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game, after Jonquel Jones in 2019 and Breanna Stewart in 2020. Fox News said she became the youngest player to reach those totals in a WNBA postseason game. Newsweek, citing StatMuse, said she is the youngest with a 30-point, 15-rebound game in WNBA Finals history, and citing WNBA Communications listed Jones, Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, Stewart and A'ja Wilson among others with such postseason games. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Golden State shot 34.4% and went 7 for 24 from 3-point range. Gabby Williams scored 14 points on 3-for-15 shooting after scoring 26 in Saturday's 68-64 Game 1 win. "We shot terribly," point guard Veronica Burton said. Center Kiah Stokes said of Reese: "She was definitely way more aggressive, she had a great game." A Boston Globe summary said the Dream turned eight offensive rebounds into 13 second-chance points, scored 17 points on the break and turned 15 Valkyries turnovers into 19 points. [ 1 , 5 ]
Game 3 was set for Wednesday in Atlanta, where the next two matchups were moved to State Farm Arena, which holds more than 17,000, rather than the Dream's regular home, Gateway Center Arena, which holds 3,500. Chase Center holds 18,064 and has sold out every game since the Valkyries began playing last year. Newsweek said the Valkyries entered the series as slight favorites. [ 1 , 3 ]
Fox News also reported that both teams stayed off the court during the national anthem before Game 2, and that the league had not answered OutKick's questions about it. Later, AP reported that the Dream beat the Valkyries 97-71 for a 2-1 lead in the Finals. Fox News said Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds in that game. [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]
Why it matters
The Dream now lead the series 2-1 according to AP and Fox News headlines, after losing the opener. The coverage frames the Game 2 win as a franchise milestone and a record-setting night for Reese and Rhyne Howard.
Key facts
- The Dream beat the Valkyries 79-65 on Monday night at Chase Center to make the best-of-seven WNBA Finals 1-1. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Angel Reese scored 30 points with 16 rebounds; Allisha Gray added 18 points. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals. [ 1 , 3 ]
- It was the Dream's first win in a WNBA Finals game; the franchise had been winless in three previous Finals trips. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Valkyries shot 34.4% and went 7 for 24 from 3-point range. [ 1 ]
- The Dream turned 15 Valkyries turnovers into 19 points. [ 5 ]
- AP and Fox News later reported a 97-71 Dream win for a 2-1 series lead, with Reese posting 21 points and 12 rebounds, according to Fox News. [ 6 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Atlanta beat Golden State 79-65 on Monday night to even the WNBA Finals at 1-1. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Reese finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Howard's six steals set a WNBA Finals record. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The win was the Dream's first in a WNBA Finals game. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The Dream beat the Valkyries 97-71 to take a 2-1 lead in the Finals. [ 6 , 7 ]
Still unclear
- How Reese's age record is defined: youngest with 30 points and 15 rebounds in a WNBA postseason game, or in WNBA Finals history. Fox News says postseason game; Newsweek, citing StatMuse, says Finals history.
- Whether both teams skipped the national anthem before Game 2. Only Fox News reports it, and says the league had not answered OutKick's questions about the absences.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Boston Globe published its report of the Dream's 79-65 win in Game 2 on 19 October. [ 1 ]
- AP published a report on the Valkyries' turnovers as a key factor in the Dream evening the Finals. [ 2 ]
- Fox News published its report on Reese's Game 2 performance on 20 October. [ 4 ]
- AP published a report that the Dream beat the Valkyries 97-71 for a 2-1 lead, on 21 October. [ 6 ]
- Fox News published its report on Reese's 21 points and 12 rebounds in the 97-71 win. [ 7 ]