It was a grind from the start. Golden State led 25-22 at halftime, the lowest combined first-half score in Finals history. Atlanta shot a season-low 29 percent from the field and turned the ball over 17 times, which Golden State converted into 21 points. The Valkyries committed nine turnovers themselves. A 10-2 run in the fourth quarter, which included a three-point play by Gabby Williams and a three-pointer by Kiah Stokes, pushed the lead to 12.

Stokes was the difference on both ends. She scored 13 points, a season high, with eight rebounds and three blocks, and held Atlanta's Angel Reese to seven points on 2-of-8 shooting. Reese still collected 15 rebounds and five assists, but she also picked up three offensive fouls. Stokes has now blocked at least three shots in six straight playoff games, tying the WNBA postseason record Lisa Leslie set in 2003.

Veronica Burton added 13 points and eight rebounds for Golden State, and Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini scored 12 apiece. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 20. A head collision between Hayes and Atlanta's Allisha Gray was reviewed, and no flagrant foul was assessed.

The series had been tied 2-2 going into the game. Golden State evened it on Saturday with a 67-62 win in Game 4, outscoring Atlanta 38-28 in the paint and 7-2 in transition. Williams scored 17 in that game and Howard 19. Stokes had four points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, and Reese went 2-of-12 from the field. Golden State entered the Finals as the No. 2 seed and Atlanta as the No. 4 seed, and neither franchise has won a title. The Valkyries began play in 2025, and the Dream had been to three Finals before this one.

Valkyries owner Joe Lacob said the team's success has come faster than the promise he made three years ago of a championship within five years. Atlanta coach Karl Smesko criticized the 12:30 p.m. ET start for Game 6 on Thursday at State Farm Arena and suggested championship games should be played on a national holiday. A Game 7, if needed, would be played Saturday at Chase Center.