The Atlanta Dream came within one victory of winning their first-ever WNBA championship but ultimately fell short against the Golden State Valkyries, losing 68-63 in Game 7 in the WNBA Finals. Gabby Williams eventually took charge of a low-scoring affair where both teams struggled to find consistent offensive production.
Atlanta went in at halftime leading by six points, and had actually gone ahead by as many as nine in the third quarter before eventually allowing the Valkyries to take over the game. Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray carried much of the scoring responsibility, combining for 34 points, but Rhyne Howard and Angel Reese struggled to provide enough offense, while the supporting cast offered limited help.
We look at the Atlanta players most to blame for the WNBA Finals loss to Golden State, who won their first title in just the second year of their existence.
#1 Rhyne Howard left Atlanta without a third option
Howard's offensive struggles were among the biggest problems for Atlanta in Game 7. She finished with just six points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, failing to provide the scoring support the Dream needed alongside Canada and Gray.
While she was a constant menace on defence, the Dream were left starved of scoring and needed the four-time All-Star to step up. Howard ended the season averaging 17.7 points per game per Basketball Reference, but was unable to make the same impact when her team needed it the most.
Howard's six points ultimately left Atlanta short of another reliable scoring threat during decisive stretches, which put further pressure on the likes of Canada and Gray.
#2 Angel Reese needed to get more points
Reese finished with eight points, 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks, shooting 3-of-7 from the field. Her rebounding remained valuable, but she struggled to convert consistently against Golden State's interior defense and did not make a single field goal in the fourth quarter.
With Howard, Atlanta’s second option behind Gray enduring a difficult night, it was Reese who could have been the answer for her team. Reese’s struggles in Game 7 concluded a four-game run that saw her contribute just 38 points, a stark contrast to the 65 points she scored in the first three games of the series. The Valkyries undoubtedly double-teamed Reese and made things uncomfortable in the paint as much as they could, but Reese will be well aware that things could have gone starkly differently.
The defeat marked another missed opportunity for Atlanta, who lost the WNBA Finals for the fourth time since 2010. Game 7 was an extremely low-scoring affair, and there is no doubt a few extra points from the above-mentioned stars could have helped Atlanta script history.
However, as Reese herself claimed, this might only be the start of the journey for this group of players, and there is no doubt that the Dream have the talent to make another serious run at the title in the coming years.