The Golden State Valkyries are one win away from their first title in franchise history after a 64-55 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Monday. Now up 3-2, the Valkyries will have a chance to clinch on Thursday afternoon in Atlanta. Tip off for Game 6 is set for 12:30 p.m. ET.
Game 5 was not an instant classic.
Offense was even more difficult to come by than it had been in the first four games of the series, and the shotmaking on both sides was largely abysmal. The Valkyries led 25-22 at halftime, and both teams barely cracked the 40-point mark by the end of the third quarter. There wasn’t much to write home about until the fourth, when the Valkyries pulled away.
Kiah Stokes, who has been dominant on the defensive end and on the glass, hit a huge 3-pointer to push the Valkyries’ lead up to double digits early in the fourth, and the Dream never truly had a response. Stokes finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks in her highest-scoring game of the playoffs.
Veronica Burton added 13 points and Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini had 12 points apiece.
The Valkyries held the Dream to 55 points on 19 of 65 from the field (29.2%) and forced 15 turnovers, which they converted into 21 points. Crucially, the Valkyries shut down Angel Reese and kept the Dream off the free throw line. Reese managed just seven points on 2 of 8 from the field, and the Dream’s 14 free throw attempts were by far their fewest of the series.