Dream–Valkyries Game 3: What Changes As the WNBA Finals Move to Atlanta

The Atlanta Dream bring a tied WNBA Finals home for Game 3 against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, October 21. Atlanta’s 79–65 win on Monday erased Golden State’s opening-game advantage. At State Farm Arena, the next question is whether the Valkyries can prevent another stretch in which their offense stalls while the Dream build a lead.

The best-of-seven series is 1–1. Neither team can finish the series in Atlanta this week: Wednesday’s winner takes a 2–1 advantage, with Game 4 also in Atlanta on Saturday before the teams return to San Francisco.

When and where to watch Game 3

Tipoff is 6 p.m. MDT, 8 p.m. EDT, at State Farm Arena. In the United States, the game is on USA Network and CNBC and streams on Peacock; the pregame show begins at 5 p.m. MDT. In Canada, TSN’s game-specific schedule lists TSN4. Streaming access depends on the viewer’s subscription and location.

Who is available

The WNBA’s 6:30 p.m. ET injury report, issued at 4:30 p.m. MDT, lists Atlanta’s Brionna Jones out with a left-leg injury. No Golden State player appears on that report. An empty team listing does not confirm a starting lineup.

Atlanta started Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon and Angel Reese in Game 2. That five supplies a basis for the matchup discussion, rather than a confirmed Game 3 lineup. Gray returned from a hand injury in the opener and played again Monday. Neither team’s starting five had been confirmed in the materials available at the reporting cutoff.

What the first two games establish

Golden State won the opener 68–64, then scored 65 in the second game. The larger change came at Atlanta’s end, where the Dream increased their total from 64 to 79. These are two Finals games, not a season-long measure of either team’s offense.

Game 2’s shooting totals make the foul line particularly relevant. Both teams made 21 field goals, including seven 3-pointers. Atlanta made 30 free throws to Golden State’s 16, a 14-point difference that matched the final margin. That accounting does not explain every possession, but it identifies an advantage Golden State cannot erase simply by matching Atlanta’s jump shooting.

The matchups to watch

Reese finished Game 2 with 30 points and 16 rebounds, giving Golden State a specific interior problem alongside Atlanta’s perimeter options in Canada, Gray and Howard. Keeping her away from comfortable scoring positions while limiting shooting fouls is a connected defensive task. The foul-line comparison makes that a useful question for Game 3; it does not establish how Nakase intends to defend her.

Possession control matters at the other end. Golden State committed 19 turnovers to Atlanta’s 14 in Game 2. The Valkyries need to create shots before they can improve the result of those possessions. Watch whether they can move into their offense without giving Atlanta additional chances to score, particularly when the Dream increase pressure.

The third quarter is another meaningful checkpoint. Atlanta outscored Golden State 21–9 in that period Monday. A strong opening half will have limited value to the Valkyries if they surrender another double-digit advantage immediately after halftime. The two-game sample supports watching that stretch closely, rather than assuming the same margin will repeat.

What the teams have said

After Game 2, Golden State coach Natalie Nakase emphasized the defensive standard. “Our identity is defense and we hang our hats on that,” she said, according to Ann Killion’s October 19 San Francisco Chronicle report. Discussing the prospect of playing in Atlanta, Veronica Burton said, “It takes composure.” Those were postgame remarks, not new Wednesday interviews.

Reese also looked ahead after Atlanta’s win. “It’s just a start,” she said in the Dream’s account of Game 2. “We have the city behind us.” No October 21 coach or player interview transcript from either team was available for this preview.

The remaining schedule

With the series tied, Game 5 is guaranteed. Games 6 and 7 remain conditional. The Valkyries’ Game 2 page has the October 19 highlights and postgame press conferences for a closer look at the game preceding Wednesday’s matchup.