Atlanta Dream take Game 3 at State Farm Arena with 97-71 win over Golden State Valkyries in 2026 WNBA Finals

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Game 3 of the 2026 WNBA Finals swung decisively in Atlanta’s favor as the Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 at State Farm Arena, turning a tied series into a fresh momentum shift after the series stood 1-1 entering the night. The WNBA’s live game updates described Atlanta using a second-half surge to claim what it called the franchise’s first home Finals win.

Angel Reese powered the Dream’s scoring and rebounding with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Rhyne Howard added 18 points in the win, according to the WNBA’s recap. Reese’s production also matched a historic milestone highlighted in the league’s live coverage: she became the first player to record a double-double in each of her first three WNBA Finals games across the league’s history.

The WNBA’s updates further placed Reese’s early Finals run in statistical context, noting that through her first three games she averaged 21.7 points per game and 13.3 rebounds per game. The recap also stated that she joined A’ja Wilson as the only players to reach those averages across a three-game Finals span.

Atlanta’s start created separation that the Valkyries were later able to challenge before Atlanta responded in the closing minutes of the third quarter. In the WNBA’s live posting, Golden State was able to tie the game at one point, but the Dream then went on an 8-0 run over the final 2:11 of the third quarter to reopen an eight-point advantage.

As Game 3 progressed, the WNBA’s updates pointed to key scoring bursts and defensive impact. Naz Hillmon hit two consecutive three-pointers to push Atlanta’s lead up to nine points, while earlier in the first quarter the league’s recap noted Kiah Stokes had reached three blocks with just under six minutes remaining.

The game’s momentum at halftime also reflected the Dream’s advantage. In the league’s live recap, Atlanta led by nine at the break, with Reese registering 15 points and 7 rebounds, and Golden State’s Janelle Salaún leading a scoring note of his own with 10 points and three three-pointers in the first half.

Entering the fourth quarter, Atlanta maintained control by extending its lead to 14 points over Golden State, as described in the WNBA’s Game 3 live updates. The recap also tied Reese directly to one of Atlanta’s late third-quarter efforts, noting she capped the run by taking a coast-to-coast transition play to force a timeout call.

With the Dream’s second-half surge completing a 97-71 victory, Atlanta improved its Finals position within the series framework established before Game 3. The league’s live coverage framed the win as a home benchmark for the organization and underscored Reese’s ongoing first-three-games double-double streak as the central individual storyline of the matchup.

Broadcast information included in the league’s live coverage listed Game 3 at 8:00 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock, as part of the 2026 WNBA Finals programming on October 21, 2026.

In addition to the on-court results, the WNBA’s live updates used social and highlight references to spotlight game moments, including an Angel Reese transition sequence and other key swings that contributed to Atlanta’s control after halftime. The official recap also referenced WNBA branding for the matchup, including #WNBASeason30 and #2026WNBAFinals.