NewzAustralian basketballer Izzy Borlase is one step closer to a WNBA title as her Atlanta Dream side beats Golden State Valkyries to lead 2-1 in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals. Angel Reese kept the Dream rolling in Game 3 with a 97-71 win as Atlanta took a 2-1 lead over the Valkyries in the WNBA Finals. Reese posts 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3Dream cruise to 97-71 prevail before 17,099 fansFinals opener draws record 2.1 million TV viewersAngel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA finals.Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon had 15 for the Dream, who host Game 4 on Saturday.
ATLANTA (AP) — Angel Reese had 21 points and 12 rebounds to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night and take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals.Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon had 15 for the Dream, who host Game 4 on Saturday.It was the second straight strong game for Reese, who had 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, which the Dream also won.With the game tied at 49 in the third quarter, Atlanta scored eight straight, including four by Reese. Golden State got within 59-55 on Tiffany Hayes’ layup, but could get no closer as Atlanta closed the quarter scoring 12 of the final 14 points.Atlanta has dominated the third quarter so far in the series, outscoring Golden State 63-35 combined in the three games.With Atlanta up 17 in the fourth quarter, Jordin Canada overthrew Reese on the break, but she saved the ball throwing it over her head underneath the basket to Howard, who got fouled.Golden State could never recover. Gabby Williams scored 15 points and Hayes added 14 to lead the Valkyries.___See AP’s full WNBA coverage hereTHIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP’s earlier story follows below.Angel Reese is excited to see Atlanta show up for the Dream's first home WNBA Finals game in 13 years.Game 3 Wednesday night is sold out, as is Game 4 on Saturday. Both games are being played at State Farm Arena, which seats over 17,000 fans.“It's really good to be back home in front of our fans and to get 17,000 people here tonight,” said Reese, who was instrumental in tying up the best-of-7 series at 1-1 with her 30-point, 16-rebound effort in Game 2.The game was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday at the Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream play most of their home games. The league was able to work with the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena to play the next two games of the championship series there.“It means a lot.
I really enjoy Gateway, it's very intimate,” Reese said. "A lot of people were able to just to feel each other. But it is good to see the game growing and continue to be supported here in Atlanta.People are paying attention to this series.
Both games in Golden State were sold out and the ratings for Game 1 were the highest ever for an opening WNBA Finals game in league history, with an average of 2.1 million people tuning in.“I just love that when pe…
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