ATLANTA (AP) — There should be no problem with the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream approaching the first WNBA Finals Game 7 in league history with a sense of urgency.
asserted
Valkyries → approach → urgency
Then again, that’s what Golden State coach Natalie Nakase thought about Game 6.
asserted
Nakase → ’ → Game
She was baffled that her team somehow left behind its defensive intensity at the start of Thursday’s 80-69 loss to the Dream that forced Game 7 at “Ballhalla” in San Francisco on Saturday night.
asserted
that → baffle → night
While the Valkyries were missing their defensive edge that was so important in their 64-55 Game 5 win, the Dream seized the opportunity by making 73.3% of their shots in the first quarter and racing to a 32-15 lead.
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Dream → miss → lead
Atlanta kept the lead in double figures most of the remainder of the game.
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Atlanta → keep → game
“Can’t let that happen right out of the gate,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton
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that → let → gate
It’s the WNBA Finals.”
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It → ’ → ?
Even after the Valkyries showed fight by attempting a second-half comeback, Nakase was still struggling to comprehend the lackadaisical start so she could make sure it’s not repeated in Saturday night’s decisive game.
uncertain
it → show → game
She said she planned to have conversations with her players about the issue on the flight back to California.
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she → say → California
“I put that on me of like, what did I not say, what did I not get to my team of the sense of urgency that we knew they were going to play?” Nakase said of the Dream.
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Nakase → put → Dream
“We knew they were going to play desperate.
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they → know → ?
We knew they were going to play like their life depends on it.
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life → know → it
For us not to match that is disappointing and frustrating.
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match → match → that
So, yeah, I need to make sure my team is prepared.”
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team → need → ?
Added Nakase of her plan to seek answers: “For me, I need clarity.
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I → add → clarity
I need some information.”
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I → need → information
The Dream and Valkyries each will be playing for their first WNBA title.
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Dream → play → title
Atlanta’s Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard had 21 in Thursday’s win when Golden State’s only lead was 2-0.
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lead → score → win
Angel Reese added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Dream.
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Reese → add → Dream
“Our job is not done,” Reese said.
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Reese → do → ?
“We definitely could be happy about it for now but we have more work to do.
uncertain
we → have → work
I think we definitely have another level that we can get to, like (Gray) was saying.
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Gray → think → that
We shot a lot better this game, for sure, but I think we just continue to grow from this.”
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we → shoot → this
A first for the Finals
The format for the WNBA Finals was a best-of-five series until the first best-of-seven series in 2025, when the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury 4-0.
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Aces → sweep → Mercury
The Dream lost in the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013.
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Dream → lose → 2010
The Valkyries reached this year’s Finals in only their second season of existence.
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Valkyries → reach → existence
Atlanta fans pack State Farm Arena
Despite Thursday’s Game 6 being scheduled for a much-criticized 12:30 p.m. EDT tipoff that created concerns about fans’ obligations to work and school, Atlanta supporters delivered a sellout of 17,099 at State Farm Arena.
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supporters → pack → Arena
“Shout out to the crowd, being able to come here at 12:30 on a Thursday and so many things going on in the world from school to work, to everything else,” Reese said.
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Reese → shout → everything
“We’re just super thankful.
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We → ’re → ?
We fed off their energy.
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We → feed → energy
So we’re definitely thankful for that.”
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we → ’re → that
Reese knows another packed house will be supporting the Valkyries on Saturday night.
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house → know → night
“I think that the crowd doesn’t really get to us much but I think, obviously, Game 7 is going to be a lot louder,” Reese said.
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Reese → think → us
“The energy is going to be electric in there.
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energy → go → ?
So just honestly staying poised, staying together, and I think we’ll be fine.”
asserted
we → stay → ?
Injury scare for Hayes
Golden State’s Tiffany Hayes was called for her fifth foul in a collision for a loose ball with 5:01 remaining.
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Hayes → call → 5:01
Hayes was left laying on the court following the collision.
asserted
Hayes → leave → collision
She slowly walked off after receiving attention from a trainer.
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She → walk → trainer
Nakase said she wanted to check in again with Hayes but added “she looked good to me.
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she → say → me
Yeah, she looked fine.”
asserted
she → look → ?
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
