The Golden State Valkyries took a 3-2 lead in the WNBA Finals after beating the Atlanta Dream. They need just one more win to claim the title.
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday. This crucial victory puts the team one win away from their first WNBA championship.
Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton led the team with 13 points each. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini also contributed 12 points apiece during the contest.
Additionally, Stokes and Burton performed well on the boards. Both players grabbed eight rebounds to help secure the win in Game 5.
Now, Golden State leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. The teams will travel back to Atlanta for the next game on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries relied heavily on their strong defensive play. They held Atlanta to a season-low scoring total throughout the night.
The Dream struggled to shoot the ball effectively. They made only 19 of 65 field goal attempts, which equals 29 percent shooting.
Also, the Golden State defense limited Atlanta star Angel Reese. Reese scored just seven points despite grabbing 15 total rebounds.
Furthermore, Stokes anchored the defense with four blocked shots. She has recorded at least three blocks in every game of the finals.
Rhyne Howard paced the Atlanta offense with 20 points. Jordin Canada also provided 12 points, but the effort fell short for the visitors.
Finally, the home crowd supported the Valkyries throughout the intense matchup. Stokes thanked the fans for their energy after the final buzzer sounded.