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The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries meet in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals tonight, with the best-of-seven series tied at 2-2. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The winner moves one victory away from the championship. The series then shifts to Atlanta, where the Dream host Game 6 at State Farm Arena on Thursday, October 29. That gives tonight’s result added weight: one team can take a 3-2 lead into the next game, while the other needs to win twice in a row to claim the title.

Both teams have already shown they can respond after a loss. The first four games include two Atlanta victories and two Golden State wins. The series now turns on who can deliver the more complete performance in the next high-pressure matchup.

The series arrives at a turning point

Golden State opened the Finals with a 68-64 win in Game 1. Atlanta answered in San Francisco, taking Game 2 by a 79-65 score and leveling the series.

The Dream then gained the lead with a decisive 97-71 win in Game 3. The Valkyries responded in Atlanta on Saturday, winning Game 4, 67-62, and bringing the series back to even.

Tonight marks the first of at least two remaining games. With the series tied, Game 5 offers a chance to gain the lead and put the opponent in a must-win position. The official WNBA game page lists the matchup for Monday night at Chase Center.

Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries players compete during the WNBA Finals

Game 4 put pressure on Atlanta’s ball security

Golden State set the tone early in Game 4 and built a 16-point halftime lead. The Valkyries limited Atlanta’s chances to build a consistent rhythm, then held off a second-half push. The Dream came within four points in the final 30 seconds but could not complete the comeback.

Turnovers made a clear difference. The Valkyries forced 18 Atlanta turnovers and committed nine of their own. Golden State converted those mistakes into 16 points, while Atlanta scored eight points off turnovers. The Valkyries’ Game 4 recap also notes that the team recorded eight steals.

The result gives Atlanta a clear area to address in Game 5: protect the ball and keep its offense moving. The Dream had strong scoring stretches earlier in the series, including their 97-point Game 3. Repeating that level of production will require them to limit the Valkyries’ chances to turn defensive stops into quick points.

The Dream look to regain their offensive rhythm

Atlanta’s two wins came by different margins, but both showed the team’s ability to produce when its offense finds space. The Dream scored 79 points in Game 2 and 97 in Game 3. Their 62 points in Game 4 were not enough to overcome Golden State’s early lead.

Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 19 points in the latest game, while Jordin Canada and Isobel Borlase added 10 apiece. The team’s task is not only to find scoring, but to make each possession count and avoid giving Golden State extra chances.

Angel Reese has also been a key part of the series. She scored 30 points in Game 2 and 21 in Game 3, according to the WNBA’s Game 5 preview. Golden State made it harder for her to score in Game 4, when she finished with eight points. Atlanta will look for ways to involve her while also creating opportunities for the rest of its lineup.

The Dream’s return to Atlanta for Game 6 gives tonight’s result a local edge for fans. A win in San Francisco would put the team in position to close out the Finals at home. A loss would make Thursday an elimination game for Atlanta.

Golden State aims to build on its Game 4 response

The Valkyries showed in Game 4 that they can disrupt Atlanta’s offense and manage a close finish on the road. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points, and Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton each added 13. The team also reduced its own turnovers after committing more than 17 in each of the first three games, according to the Valkyries’ recap.

Golden State returns to Chase Center for Game 5, where it can look to carry that defensive pressure into the next matchup. Limiting Atlanta’s transition chances and keeping the turnover count under control remain practical priorities. The Valkyries have already demonstrated that their defense can change the pace of a game.

Game 4 Finals graphic showing Golden State’s 67-62 win over Atlanta

What Game 5 means for the Finals

The winner tonight takes a 3-2 lead in the series and needs one more win to become champion. The loser must win both remaining games to take the title.

That makes Game 5 a pivotal contest, but it does not decide the Finals on its own. Atlanta has the next home game, and a Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for October 31 at Chase Center. The Chase Center event page lists tonight’s game at 5 p.m. Pacific, which is 8 p.m. Eastern.

The series has already shifted momentum from one team to the other. Atlanta won two games in a row after dropping the opener. Golden State responded with a win in Game 4. Both sides have had success, and neither enters tonight with a series advantage.

Game 5 details and remaining schedule

  • Game 5: Monday, October 26, at 8 p.m. Eastern at Chase Center in San Francisco. The game is scheduled to air on USA and Peacock, according to the Valkyries’ broadcast schedule.
  • Game 6: Thursday, October 29, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
  • Game 7: Saturday, October 31, at Chase Center, if necessary.

A Game 5 win gives either team control of the series heading into the Dream’s Atlanta homecoming. The matchup begins tonight, with the championship still within reach for both teams.

This preview is based on publicly available information. Atlanta Wave TV is not credentialed for Game 5 and is not attending the event. For more stories from Atlanta’s news and sports scene, visit our news section.