Atlanta Dream take 2 to 1 WNBA Finals lead against Valkyries

The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97 to 71 on Wednesday night to take a 2 to 1 lead in the best of seven WNBA Finals, Fox News and FOX Sports reported. Angel Reese scored 21 points and recorded 12 rebounds during the victory at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, according to Fox News. Fox News noted that Reese became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to reach at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in a game. [1][2]

CBS Sports and the New York Post reported that the game was played at State Farm Arena, which seats 17,000 fans, rather than the team's smaller primary venue. The New York Post reported that the WNBA adjusted the schedule by moving the game up one day to accommodate local fans despite logistical challenges. Players from both the Valkyries and the Dream exited the court to the locker room before the national anthem was sung, according to Fox News and the New York Post. [1][3][4][7]

Reese was born in Maryland and played college basketball for Maryland and LSU before entering the professional ranks, and currently plays for the Atlanta Dream. The franchise was founded for the 2008 WNBA season and is owned by Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair, and Renee Montgomery. As FTMQ News reported earlier, both the Dream and the Valkyries are competing to win their first WNBA championship. [12][13][15][17]

The Dream host the Valkyries in Atlanta as the best of seven series continues, with both teams seeking their first title in franchise history. [1][3][17]