Reese leads another Atlanta rout
Angel Reese finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night, taking a 2-1 advantage in the WNBA Finals. Rhyne Howard contributed 16 points and Naz Hillmon added 15 for Atlanta, which will host Game 4 on Saturday. The result marked the second consecutive strong outing for Reese, who had posted 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, also won by the Dream.[S1]
The contest was tied at 49 in the third quarter before Atlanta rattled off eight unanswered points, four of them from Reese. Golden State trimmed the gap to 59-55 on a Tiffany Hayes layup, but drew no closer, as Atlanta scored 12 of the last 14 points in the period. Across the three games so far, the Dream have outscored the Valkyries 63-35 in third quarters combined.[S1]
Ahead by 17 in the fourth, Atlanta produced a highlight when Jordin Canada overthrew Reese on a fast break; Reese rescued the ball by throwing it over her head from beneath the basket to Howard, who was fouled. Golden State never found a way back into the game. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 15 points and Hayes added 14.[S1]
Understand this article deeper
Bay Area faithful make the trip to Atlanta
Golden State supporters filled State Farm Arena and the surrounding streets of Atlanta on Wednesday night, their purple standing out amid the home crowd's blue as the Valkyries met the Dream in Game 3. Melissa Gonzalez, a Santa Rosa resident who flew in that day for the first time, described the atmosphere as welcoming and said the players stop, sign autographs and acknowledge the fans. Alex Morrison, a supporter since the team's launch, said the traveling backers call themselves Balhalla in the A, a nod to the nickname fans use for San Francisco's Chase Center.[S2]
The best-of-seven series arrived in Atlanta level at one win apiece. Golden State took Game 1 68-64 at Chase Center last week, and the Dream answered with a 79-65 victory on Monday in Game 2. After that loss, Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said the team shot poorly and needed to absorb pressure and respond. By Wednesday the visitors were down six at halftime after a slow start, though fans took heart that the game remained close amid several Dream turnovers.[S2]
Jenson Baker, who traveled from Virginia with family to watch his cousin, an assistant coach, predicted before tipoff that the league's top defensive team would prove it that night. Aileen Casanave, a season-ticket holder since the franchise began, credited ownership and management with treating the women's team as they do the Warriors, sparing it from having to scrape for every dollar, and said she hopes other clubs copy that approach. Jacob Harris, a Berkeley native living in Marin County, said the Valkyries embody the Bay Area's underdog identity and win because they care.[S2]
