Sharp-shooting Dream beat Valkyries 80-67 to force Game 7 in WNBA Finals

ATLANTA -- Allisha Gray scored 23 points on five 3-pointers on Thursday afternoon to help the Atlanta Dream earn an 80-69 victory over the visiting Golden State Valkyries to even the WNBA Finals at three games apiece and force a winner-take-all Game 7.

Rhyne Howard added 21 points and Angel Reese posted 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for Atlanta, which didn't trail after the game's opening minute. Jordin Canada chipped in 10 points for the Dream, who connected on 13 3-pointers and held Golden State to 26 first-half points.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points, while Tiffany Hayes scored 15. Golden State, which will return home for Game 7 on Saturday night, made just seven of its 27 3-point attempts (25.9%).

After Williams made a free throw to cut Golden State's early deficit to 6-5, Atlanta rattled off 13 straight points -- including five each from Gray and Canada -- to give the Dream a 19-5 edge.

Williams stopped the bleeding with the Valkyries' first 3-pointer of the game, but that was answered with consecutive Howard treys to make it 25-8.

Atlanta made six of eight 3-pointers in the first quarter and took a 32-15 lead into the second.

The Dream's offensive barrage continued into the second quarter, as Reese's first 3-pointer and a mid-range jumper by Howard extended the margin to 25 with 4:20 left in the first half.

Hayes made a triple and reserve Laeticia Amihere closed the first half with a layup to Golden State's halftime deficit to 46-26.

The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 21-17 in the third quarter and pulled within 16 on Kaila Charles' buzzer-beating 3-pointer.

Golden State continued to trim Atlanta's lead in the fourth, as Williams' triple made it 68-55 with 6:50 remaining.

The Dream then responded with 3-pointers by Gray and Reese to push the lead back to 19.

Williams completed a three-point play at the 1:15 mark to pull the Valkyries within eight, but Gray sank her fifth trey on the other end to stamp Atlanta's pivotal win.

--Jack Batten, Field Level Media