Golden State Valkyries Force Game 7 Chance After Kiah Stokes' Defensive Streak

The Golden State Valkyries entered the final game of the regular season with a 3-2 series lead in the WNBA Finals.

Kiah Stokes anchored the defense in a 64-55 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Monday at Ballhalla. She recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks while shooting 5-for-6 from the field. This performance extended her streak of blocking at least three shots in consecutive games to six. ESPN Research noted this ties the single-postseason record set by Lisa Leslie in 2003.

Stokes has been a central figure in the Valkyries' defensive strategy throughout the series. Her presence on the floor has disrupted Atlanta's offensive rhythm. When Stokes contested a shot, the Dream went 1-for-7 from the field and 0-for-1 from beyond the arc. Atlanta's starting forwards, Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon, combined for 9 points on 3-of-13 shooting. Reserve guard-forward DeWanna Bonner took only two shots and did not score.

Stokes also contributed on the offensive end. She made three 3-pointers, tying her season high. According to Alexa Philippou of ESPN, Stokes made three or fewer 3-pointers total in six of her 11 seasons in the league. The 6-foot-3 center, who previously won three titles with Las Vegas, maintained high energy from the opening tip.

The Dream's 55 points were the fewest they have scored this season. They outrebounded Golden State 44-33, but their 29.2 percent shooting percentage from the field neutralized that advantage. Atlanta shot 19-of-65 in the loss. The Valkyries have now held two opponents under 50 points this year, a feat they achieved against the Washington Mystics on July 6.

The series moves to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. ET at State Farm Arena. The game time was adjusted to allow for a morning start in the Pacific Time Zone. If Golden State wins, they will claim their first franchise championship on the road. If the series extends, the Valkyries will return to Ballhalla for Game 7 on Halloween.

Atlanta needs a performance similar to Reese's outings in Games 2 and 3, where she scored 30 and 21 points respectively. Her combined 15 points in the last two games has not been enough to overcome Golden State's defensive intensity. The Valkyries have won every game in this series where both teams were held below 70 points.