WNBA Finals: Golden State Valkyries One Win from First Championship After Game 5 Victory

The Golden State Valkyries moved to within one win of their first ever WNBA championship by defeating the Atlanta Dream 64–55 in Game 5 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on 26 October. The Valkyries' victory was built on an exceptional defensive display: they held the Dream to just 29.2 per cent shooting from the field, resulting in the lowest-scoring first half in WNBA Finals history with just 47 combined points. Kiah Stokes was the defensive catalyst, finishing with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocks — the last of which tied Lisa Leslie's postseason record of six consecutive games with at least three blocks — to rapturous 'MVP!' chants from the home crowd. Veronica Burton added 13 points and 8 rebounds, while Tiffany Hayes contributed 12 points. For Atlanta, Rhyne Howard led with 20 points and 5 rebounds, but Angel Reese — who had 15 rebounds — was limited to just 2 points in the second half. The Valkyries lead the best-of-seven series 3–2. Game 6 is scheduled for 29 October at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where the Dream can force a deciding Game 7 on home court.