SAN FRANCISCO — Defense has defined these WNBA Finals, and it pushed the Golden State Valkyries to the brink of their first championship Monday night. Golden State held the Atlanta Dream to 55 points at Chase Center and won Game 5, 64-55, for a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Center Kiah Stokes was the difference at both ends. She scored 13 points, which tied her best of the season, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked three shots and knocked down three 3-pointers, a postseason high for her. It was her sixth straight playoff game with three or more blocks, matching Lisa Leslie for the longest such run in league history.
Veronica Burton nearly mirrored that line with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocks. Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini scored 12 apiece, giving Golden State four players in double figures on a night when star Gabby Williams managed nine points and made 3 of her 14 shots.
The first half was the lowest-scoring in Finals history, and the Valkyries took only a 25-22 lead to the locker room. Stokes then took over the third quarter with two 3-pointers and two blocks.
Atlanta shot just 29 percent from the floor, a season low, and its 55 points were also its fewest of the year. Rhyne Howard paced Atlanta with 20. Angel Reese finished with seven points and hit only 2 of her 8 attempts.
The series shifts to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday, with Golden State one victory from a title in only its second season.
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