Kiah Stokes, Valkyries Lock Down Dream in Game 5 to Move One Win From WNBA Title

Kiah Stokes delivered one of her biggest performances of the postseason Monday night as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Stokes finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks while making three 3-pointers, helping Golden State take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and move within one victory of the first championship in franchise history.

Golden State won with defense. Atlanta’s 55 points were its lowest total of the season, and the Valkyries repeatedly crowded the paint and made clean looks difficult. Veronica Burton matched Stokes with 13 points and eight rebounds while adding four blocks. Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 20 points, but Angel Reese was held to seven points on 2-of-8 shooting despite grabbing 15 rebounds. The Dream scored only 22 points in the first half and never found enough offense to complete a comeback.

The series has now changed dramatically since Atlanta took a 2-1 lead. Golden State has won consecutive games by holding the Dream to 62 and 55 points, turning the Finals into a defensive battle. Game 6 shifts back to Atlanta on Thursday, where the Valkyries can close out the series and capture the title. For the Dream, the challenge is clear: find a way to create efficient offense against a Golden State defense that has increasingly controlled the matchup.