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Reese leads Dream to first WNBA Finals win as Atlanta level series
Angel Reese scored 30 points and collected 16 rebounds as the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 to level the WNBA Finals at one game apiece.
Monday night's victory in San Francisco was Atlanta's first in a Finals game after 10 consecutive defeats across four appearances. The best-of-seven series now moves to Atlanta for the next two games.
Reese made 10 of her 16 shots, adding three assists and two blocks. Allisha Gray contributed 18 points, while Jordin Canada finished with 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
Atlanta breaks clear after half-time
The Dream led 39-37 at the interval despite foul trouble for Reese and Rhyne Howard. Veronica Burton briefly put Golden State ahead with a three-pointer early in the third quarter, but Atlanta then took control.
The visitors outscored the Valkyries 21-9 in the third period. Canada's long-range basket on the buzzer sent Atlanta into the final quarter with a 60-46 lead, and the advantage later grew to 21 points.
Howard finished with six steals, a WNBA Finals record, as Atlanta repeatedly disrupted Golden State's attack. The Dream turned the hosts' 19 turnovers into 24 points, compared with eight points from turnovers in the opening game.
Series heads to Atlanta
Gabby Williams and Tiffany Hayes scored 14 points each for Golden State, with Burton adding 11. Williams made only three of her 15 shots after scoring 26 in the Valkyries' 68-64 Game 1 win.
Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday at State Farm Arena, where Atlanta's next two home fixtures have been moved to accommodate more supporters. The arena holds more than 17,000, compared with about 3,500 at the Dream's regular Gateway Center home.
Sources
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