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Valkyries Beat Dream 64-55 in Game 5, Lead WNBA Finals 3-2

Golden State won a low-scoring Game 5 at Chase Center on Monday night, holding Atlanta to 55 points to move one win from the first championship in franchise history.

By Orbit Post2 min read
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Valkyries Beat Dream 64-55 in Game 5, Lead WNBA Finals 3-2

Key points

  • The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday night, and the expansion team now leads the best-of-seven series 3-2.
  • Atlanta led the first quarter 14-13.
  • Neither team shot the game open.

The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday night, and the expansion team now leads the best-of-seven series 3-2. One more win gives Golden State the first championship in franchise history, in only its second season in the league.

Atlanta led the first quarter 14-13. Golden State answered with a 12-8 second quarter and reached halftime ahead 25-22. The combined 47 points were the lowest halftime total in WNBA Finals history, according to USA Today coverage of the game. The Valkyries then took control after the break, winning the third quarter 21-18 and the fourth quarter 18-15.

A defensive game from start to finish

Neither team shot the game open. Golden State won it by holding Atlanta to 55 points, the lowest total of the series. Center Kiah Stokes protected the rim for the Valkyries and blocked Naz Hillmon at the basket in the third quarter, one of the plays USA Today singled out in its live coverage. Veronica Burton led Golden State at halftime with nine points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The halftime show matched the occasion. En Vogue, the R and B group with roots in Oakland, performed at halftime in San Francisco. Dinah Jane of Fifth Harmony sang the national anthem before tipoff.

Why it matters

Golden State reached the Finals in its second season, the fastest rise by an expansion team in league history. Atlanta is in its first Finals since 2013 and is still chasing the first championship in Dream history. The Dream entered this series with an 0-10 record in Finals games before their wins in Games 2 and 3, so a 3-2 deficit is still new ground for the franchise, not a familiar ending.

For the Valkyries, the math is simple. They have two chances to win one game. The first chance comes on the road, the second, if needed, comes back in San Francisco.

What happens next

Game 6 is on Thursday, October 29, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with tipoff at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. Atlanta must win to force a Game 7. If a Game 7 is needed, it will be played at Chase Center on Saturday, October 31.

Timeline

  1. Oct 17, 2026Golden State wins Game 1 at home, 68-64.
  2. Oct 19, 2026Atlanta wins Game 2, 79-65, to tie the series.
  3. Oct 21, 2026Atlanta wins Game 3 at home, 97-71, to lead 2-1.
  4. Oct 24, 2026Golden State wins Game 4 in Atlanta, 67-62, to tie the series at 2-2.
  5. Oct 26, 2026Golden State wins Game 5 at home, 64-55, to lead the Finals 3-2.
  6. Oct 29, 2026Game 6 is scheduled in Atlanta at State Farm Arena.

Sources