Stokes and Burton lead Valkyries to 64-55 win over Dream

Kiah Stokes blocked three shots on Monday night as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55. The victory places the expansion team one win away from its first WNBA championship. The final score extended Golden State's series lead to three games to two.

Burton matched Stokes' scoring output with 13 points and added eight rebounds. She recorded four blocked shots, a postseason best for a guard. That total ties a record set by Diana Taurasi in 2009 for blocks by a guard in a Finals game. The defense held Atlanta to 55 points, a low mark for the series.

Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. Her performance marked a drop from her first two games in the series. She committed three offensive fouls, the last of which came with 7:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. Reese acknowledged the deficit but maintained confidence in her teammates.

"I still believe in our team, I still believe we can win this," Reese said.

Gabby Williams shot 3-for-14 from the field and missed all four three-point attempts. She finished with nine points and six rebounds. Natalie Nakase, the head coach, kept Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles in the starting lineup after their insertion in Game 4. Hayes scored 12 points in the win. Nakase has stated she aims to win the title for Hayes, a former Atlanta player who returned from retirement two years ago.

The Valkyries led 25-22 at halftime. The combined first-half score was the lowest in WNBA Finals history. Stokes hit a three-pointer with 2:46 left in the third quarter and another with 7:21 left in the game. The crowd at Chase Center chanted her name throughout the second half.

Atlanta committed 17 turnovers, which led to 21 points for Golden State. The Dream will host Game 6 on Thursday at State Farm Arena. The game is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT. If Golden State wins, they will clinch the title. A loss will force a Game 7 back in San Francisco on Saturday.