Valkyries Stand One Win From Title as Dream Prepares Game 6

The Atlanta Dream can keep their championship hopes alive only by winning Game 6 on Thursday at State Farm Arena. The Golden State Valkyries hold a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and need one victory to take the title.

Atlanta arrived in the Finals riding a 10-game winning streak. The Dream dropped Game 1 after leading for nearly 30 minutes, then took Games 2 and 3 by a combined 40 points. Golden State answered by winning Games 4 and 5.

The Dream's offense has stalled in those two losses. Atlanta scored 62 points in Game 4 and 55 in Game 5, and committed 35 turnovers across the two games.

Two-time WNBA champion DeWanna Bonner said the team has moved away from its identity. "I feel like the last couple games, we just haven't been ourselves, and we know that," she said Wednesday. "You haven't seen us smile. You haven't seen us enjoying [each other], and that's how we play." Bonner said losing the joy of the game leads players to compete against themselves as much as the opponent.

The Dream held a film session and meetings Wednesday. Angel Reese described the discussions as "uncomfortable conversations" about what each player and the group could improve, and she said "everybody's in a great mind space right now." Guard Rhyne Howard pointed to how the Valkyries responded after Game 3. "We had them against the wall [after Game 3] and they showed up and they punched," she said. "So I think it's just our turn to come out and do the same thing."

Reese was held to single digits in both recent losses and said she has been eager to return to the floor since Monday. "After the game, I wanted to play a game right away," she said. Of Game 6, she added: "You're going to have to peel me off the court. I want to be so damn tired. I want to just be able to give everything."

Bonner said the team's belief has not changed. "Our confidence is still high," she said. "There's no reason to lose confidence. We're down one game in this. We get [Game 6] and it's a series all over again." A Dream win would force a winner-take-all Game 7 on Halloween in San Francisco.