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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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The Atlanta Dream aren't ready for their season to end just yet.
Facing elimination in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, Atlanta delivered one of its strongest performances of the postseason, defeating the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon at State Farm Arena.
The victory evened the best-of-seven series at 3-3 and forced the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
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Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 23 points, while Rhyne Howard added 21. Angel Reese delivered another strong performance, recording 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists to help the Dream keep their championship hopes alive.
Reese's 14 rebounds also secured her place in WNBA history. The star forward has now collected 78 rebounds through six games, setting a new record for the most in a single WNBA Finals series.
With one game remaining, Reese has an opportunity to extend that record as Atlanta looks to capture its first championship.
But Reese wasn't the only one making an impact Thursday. After struggling offensively in consecutive losses, the Dream came out determined to keep their season alive, setting the tone from the opening minutes.
Atlanta opened the game with a 13-0 run, putting Golden State on its heels before the Valkyries could settle into their offense.
Atlanta's hot shooting continued throughout the opening quarter, with the Dream connecting on six of their first eight attempts from beyond the arc.
By the end of the first quarter, Atlanta held a commanding 32-15 advantage.
The Dream carried that momentum into halftime, building a 20-point lead and putting themselves in position to extend the championship series.
However, as they've shown throughout the playoffs, the Valkyries weren't going down without a fight. Golden State mounted a second-half comeback, refusing to let Atlanta cruise to victory.
Gabby Williams helped fuel Golden State's comeback attempt, finishing with 26 points as the Valkyries worked to cut into Atlanta's lead.
But just as Golden State began building momentum, the Dream responded. Allisha Gray knocked down a crucial 3-pointer late in the game, helping Atlanta regain control and put the victory out of reach.
The win represented a significant turnaround for a Dream team that had scored just 62 and 55 points in Games 4 and 5, respectively.
Golden State entered Thursday needing only one victory to capture the franchise's first WNBA championship in its second season.
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Instead, the Valkyries will have to defend their home court one final time.
Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Both franchises are pursuing their first WNBA title, ensuring that Saturday's winner will make history.
Atlanta has already survived one elimination game. Now, with Reese making history and the championship within reach, the Dream have an opportunity to complete their run with one more victory.
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