Golden State beat Atlanta 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night, moving one win from a championship in its second season. Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton each finished with 13 points as the Valkyries took a 3-2 series lead and sent the Finals back to Atlanta with the chance to close it out on Thursday.
For fans searching Valkyries game today, the number that matters is simple: Golden State now controls the series after a night built on defense and turnovers. The Valkyries forced 17 Atlanta mistakes and turned them into 21 points, while holding a 25-22 halftime lead in the lowest-scoring first half in WNBA Finals history.
Stokes gave the game its edge with a key 3-pointer with 2:46 left in the third quarter and another at 7:21 in the fourth. She finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Burton matched that scoring with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots. Tiffany Hayes added 12 points after staying in the starting lineup from Game 4, a move that helped Golden State keep its offensive shape after Saturday’s lineup change.
Atlanta had chances, but not enough scoring to match the pressure Golden State put on every possession. Angel Reese finished with 15 rebounds and five assists, yet her scoring fell to seven points and she picked up three offensive fouls, including her second with 7:43 left. Gabby Williams was limited to nine points on 3-for-14 shooting, and Atlanta never found a clean stretch long enough to flip the game.
The night also underlined why Stokes has mattered throughout this run. She has recorded three or more blocks in six straight games, a streak that tied Lisa Leslie in 2003 for the longest such stretch in a single WNBA postseason. After the final buzzer, with 18,000 fans chanting MVP, Stokes said hearing the crowd made her feel appreciated and loved, then added a message that fit the moment: “We got one more.”
Now Atlanta has to win at home on Thursday to force Game 7. If that happens, the deciding game would be played at Chase Center on Saturday. Golden State has done the hard part by taking the road back to a title shot; one more win and the trophy belongs to the Valkyries.
