Game 7 highlights thumbnail from WNBA.com. Select the image to watch the official highlights.
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The Atlanta Dream’s historic season ended one step short of a championship. Golden State defeated Atlanta 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night, Oct. 31, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The Dream held a six-point halftime lead and stayed within reach late. But Golden State outscored Atlanta 44-31 after the break, turning a close game into the franchise’s first WNBA title in just its second season.
The matchup also made history as the first WNBA Finals Game 7. It was the first Finals Game 7 for either franchise. For Atlanta, it was a first chance to win a championship in a deciding game, and a hard-fought run that ended on the road.
A lead at halftime for Atlanta
The first half belonged to the Dream’s defense and timely scoring. Golden State opened with a 14-12 first-quarter edge, but Atlanta answered in the second. The Dream scored 18 points while holding the Valkyries to 10, taking a 30-24 lead into halftime.
The lead gave Atlanta a strong position in a game where every possession mattered. Jordin Canada helped drive the offense, finishing with 18 points. Allisha Gray added 16, giving the Dream two reliable scoring options as the teams traded momentum.
The setting was San Francisco, not Atlanta. But the Dream had earned the opportunity to play for the title by winning Game 6 at home. Atlanta beat Golden State 80-69 at State Farm Arena on Oct. 29 to force the winner-take-all game. The WNBA’s Game 6 summary records the result that extended the series.
Golden State changes the pace
The Valkyries found their footing after halftime. They scored 21 points in the third quarter and 23 in the fourth, while Atlanta managed 14 and 19. That second-half gap was the difference in a game that stayed close through the final minutes.
Gabby Williams led the shift. She scored 30 points overall, including 28 after halftime, and earned WNBA Finals MVP honors. Her production helped Golden State move from a six-point halftime deficit to a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
Atlanta continued to compete, but the scoring balance narrowed. The Dream shot 33.3% from the field and made six of 30 three-point attempts, according to the official Atlanta Dream recap. Golden State’s defense made it difficult for Atlanta to find a steady rhythm as the game tightened.
A close finish in the fourth
Atlanta stayed within striking distance in the final quarter. Rhyne Howard tied the score at 57 with 2:41 remaining. Williams answered with a three-pointer to put Golden State ahead 60-57, then added free throws as the Valkyries protected their lead.
Gray brought the Dream closer with late free throws, cutting the score to 66-63 with about 11 seconds left. Atlanta then forced a jump ball, but Golden State’s Veronica Burton secured possession and made two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining. The Valkyries held on for the five-point win.
The sequence left little room for Atlanta to recover. The Dream had a chance to extend the game, but Golden State made the key plays at the line and on the final possession.
Dream leaders and a Finals rebounding record
Canada’s 18 points led Atlanta, while Gray scored 16. Angel Reese finished with eight points and 12 rebounds in Game 7. Across the Finals, Reese collected 90 rebounds, setting a WNBA Finals record. The record stands as a major individual achievement from a series that ended just short of the team’s goal.
The WNBA’s official game recap and box score list the final score and quarter-by-quarter results. The Dream scored 12, 18, 14 and 19 points. Golden State scored 14, 10, 21 and 23.
| Quarter | Atlanta Dream | Golden State Valkyries |
|---|---|---|
| First | 12 | 14 |
| Second | 18 | 10 |
| Third | 14 | 21 |
| Fourth | 19 | 23 |
| Final | 63 | 68 |
Williams’ 30-point performance led the game and defined the second half. The Associated Press recap and ESPN’s game recap also report her scoring total and Finals MVP honor.
A historic season ends in Game 7
The Dream’s path to the final game included a series win in Game 6 and a chance to claim the franchise’s first championship. Atlanta’s playoff run also drew strong support at home, with the team’s official recap noting sellouts at State Farm Arena throughout the postseason.
That support and the team’s achievements remain part of the season’s story. Reese set a Finals rebounding record. Canada and Gray led Atlanta’s scoring in the decisive game. And the Dream brought the series to a Game 7, where the title came down to a narrow finish against a new champion.
Golden State’s win gives the Valkyries a championship in their second season. For Atlanta, the final score closes a memorable run without diminishing what the team accomplished on the way to the Finals.
Atlanta Wave TV’s recap draws on publicly available reports and official league and team information. Atlanta Wave TV is not credentialed and did not attend the game. For more Atlanta coverage, visit the Atlanta Wave TV blog.
