Dream 57-60 Valkyries, 2.10, 4th quarter

An extraordinary shot from Gabby Williams from Steph Curry territory! The French international has just buried a 31-foot three-pointer to put Golden State ahead by three with just over two minutes left in regulation.

Williams has 28 points now, including 26 since half-time, and has almost single-handedly dragged the Valkyries back from the brink. This latest offering, off a Veronica Burton assist, came moments after Rhyne Howard had tied the game with a driving layup.

Four three-pointers for Williams tonight and none bigger than that one. It’s bedlam at Ballhalla as Golden State are within touching distance of a championship.

Dream 55-55 Valkyries, 3.15, 4th quarter

Gabby Williams, whose fourth block of the night helped force an Atlanta shot-clock violation, sank two free throws after drawing Rhyne Howard’s fourth foul. Williams now has a game-high 23 points, 21 of them since half-time.

Allisha Gray answered with two free throws of her own after Tiffany Hayes picked up her fourth foul, bringing Atlanta back level.

Dream 53-53 Valkyries, 4.09, 4th quarter

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase may have just made one of the most important decisions of the night.

Gabby Williams was initially called for a foul while blocking Jordin Canada’s drive to the basket, but Nakase challenged and the officials overturned the decision. No free throws for Canada and a massive defensive stop for Golden State.

Neither team can find a basket at the moment. Tiffany Hayes has committed a turnover, Isobel Borlase has missed a three-pointer and Kaila Charles has also misfired from beyond the arc.

Four minutes left, the scores level and a first WNBA championship on the line. Every possession feels enormous.

Dream 53-53 Valkyries, 5.14, 4th quarter

This one is turning into a nerve-shredder. The Valkyries opened up a five-point lead early in the fourth, but the Dream have refused to go away. Australian rookie Isobel Borlase has provided an unexpected spark off the bench, scoring all of her eight points since the half, including a three-point play that cut the deficit to two.

Tiffany Hayes answered with a turnaround jumper, but Jordin Canada sank two free throws to bring Atlanta within two before Allisha Gray tied it with an 11-footer just now.

Dream 46-49 Valkyries, 7.44, 4th quarter

The Valkyries have carried their third-quarter momentum into the fourth. Gabby Williams opened the final period with a pull-up jumper to reach 19 points, while Tiffany Hayes has added a driving layup to put Golden State ahead 49-46 with 8min 10sec remaining.

Atlanta have managed just one basket in the opening two minutes, a floater from Allisha Gray, whose shooting woes have mirrored those of Rhyne Howard. Williams, meanwhile, has erupted for 17 points since half-time after managing only two before the break.

Gray has just now fouled Williams on a shooting attempt, prompting Karl Smesko to call timeout with 7min 44sec left. Two free throws await the Valkyries, who have a chance to stretch their lead to five.

End of 3rd quarter: Dream 44-45 Valkyries

What a turnaround in San Francisco! After trailing by nine points midway through the third quarter, the Valkyries will take a one-point lead into the final 10 minutes of the WNBA season.

And it’s almost entirely down to Gabby Williams. Held to two points in the first half, the French international exploded for 15 in the third, including a trio of three-pointers in little more than a minute. Her turnaround jumper with 1min 5sec remaining gave Golden State their first lead since the opening quarter.

The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 21-14 in the period, while the Dream’s offense sputtered down the stretch. Rhyne Howard remains stuck on four points and Atlanta have gone more than four minutes without scoring.

Ten minutes to decide the first championship in either franchise’s history. And after three quarters of grinding, low-scoring basketball, this one is suddenly crackling.

Updated

Dream 44-43 Valkyries, 2.02, 3rd quarter

After scoring just two points in the first half, Gabby Williams has erupted for 13 in the third quarter, including three three-pointers in barely a minute.

Her latest, with 2min 2sec remaining in the period, has cut Atlanta’s lead to a single point and sent Chase Center into a frenzy. Golden State had trailed by nine midway through the quarter and looked incapable of buying a bucket. Now they’re within a possession.

The Dream have found some timely offense from Izzy Borlase, who has scored five points off the bench, but Williams has transformed the complexion of this game almost single-handedly.

Dream 37-34 Valkyries, 4.17, 3rd quarter

Just when Atlanta appeared poised to take control, the Valkyries have come roaring back. Golden State have scored six unanswered points to trim a nine-point deficit to three.

Cecilia Zandalasini has contributed a turnaround jumper, while Gabby Williams has just finished a driving layup off Veronica Burton’s fifth assist. Kayla Thornton’s steal set up the latest basket, bringing the Ballhalla crowd back to life.

Atlanta’s offense has stalled, with Rhyne Howard struggling to find her shooting touch. After a long stretch in which Golden State could barely buy a basket, suddenly it’s a one-possession game.

Dream 37-28 Valkyries, 5.58, 3rd quarter

Golden State’s offensive woes are becoming a problem. DeWanna Bonner has just scored off a Rhyne Howard steal to put Atlanta ahead by nine, their largest lead of the night.

Dream 35-28 Valkyries, 7.11, 3rd quarter

The Valkyries have come out of the locker room with a little more urgency, but the shooting woes persist. Atlanta have widened their lead to seven points with just over seven minutes to go in the third quarter, prompting another timeout from Natalie Nakase.

Gabby Williams opened the half with a driving layup but has since missed three shots, including a three-pointer and two attempts near the basket. Kiah Stokes has added a putback, but Golden State have managed just four points in nearly three minutes.

For Atlanta, Jordin Canada has picked up where she left off, burying another three-pointer to reach a game-high 16 points. Angel Reese has already hoovered up 10 rebounds to go with five points and two blocks.

No one has been a bigger handful for the Golden State defense in the first half than the 5ft 6in Canada, who has repeatedly knifed her way into the paint and created opportunities for Atlanta.

“Just being aggressive, doing what I do best,” Canada told USA’s Meghan McPeak. “I know I can get into the paint. I know that’s one of my strengths, so I’m just trying to get there as much as I can.”

Canada, who scored nine of Atlanta’s last 11 points before the intermission, also stressed the importance of turning defensive stops into transition opportunities.

“When we get stops and then we get out in transition, that’s when we’re at our best.”

Updated

Half-time: Dream 30-24 Valkyries

Twenty minutes into the first Game 7 in WNBA history, points are at a premium and Atlanta have a six-point advantage.

Jordin Canada has carried the Dream offensively with 13 points, including 11 in the second quarter, as Atlanta outscored Golden State 18-10 in the period. Angel Reese has five points and seven rebounds, while Rhyne Howard has been held to just two points on 1-of-7 shooting.

The box score is a particularly grim look for the Valkyries, who shot just 21.4% in the second quarter and are 9-of-30 (30%) overall, including a frigid 1-of-11 from three-point range. Veronica Burton is pacing the hosts with eight points but has missed eight of her 11 shots. Gabby Williams has managed just two points on four attempts, although she has contributed three of Golden State’s six blocked shots.

Perhaps the most telling statistic: Atlanta have a 12-3 edge in second-chance points, making the most of their opportunities in a game where clean looks have been scarce.

Dream 24-20 Valkyries, 2.48, 2nd quarter

Kayla Thornton has knocked down Golden State’s first three-pointer of the night, ending a run of misses from beyond the arc and cutting Atlanta’s lead to four points with three minutes left in the half.

Canada has been the difference for the Dream, scoring seven of her nine points in the second quarter, including a driving layup through contact for a three-point play.

Meanwhile, in the mailbag … reader David Bolam is pleased with the venue and tipoff time, but has a bone to pick with the neighborhood:

At least this game is being played in a decent stadium at a reasonable hour. The neighborhood’s name, though, is the height of plastic, aspirational corporatism. I vote for “The Railyard”.

The Railyard! Sounds like somewhere a Game 7 ought to be played. We’ll pass it along to the relevant municipal authorities.

Dream 21-16 Valkyries, 6.39, 2nd quarter

Veronica Burton has stopped the bleeding, sinking a pair of free throws with 4min 55sec left in the half to cut Atlanta’s lead to 21-16.

The Valkyries went more than five minutes without scoring to open the second quarter, missing shot after shot as the Dream put together a 10-0 run. Jordin Canada has six points for Atlanta, while Burton leads Golden State with eight.

Dream 19-14 Valkyries, 6.39, 2nd quarter

Golden State have gone cold. The Valkyries have yet to score in the second quarter, missing their first six shots as Atlanta stretch their lead to 19-14 with 6min 39sec remaining before half-time.

Reese started the period with a three-pointer, Jordin Canada followed with a driving layup and DeWanna Bonner has just knocked down a pull-up jumper to prompt a timeout from Natalie Nakase.

It’s an 8-0 Atlanta run and the Valks haven’t touched the twince since the closing stages of the first quarter.

Dream 15-14 Valkyries, 9.01, 2nd quarter

Angel Reese has picked up where she left off in Game 6, knocking down a three-pointer off a Rhyne Howard assist to give Atlanta a 15-14 lead less than a minute into the second quarter. That’s noteworthy for one big reason: the Dream are a perfect 16-0 when Reese hits at least one three.

End of 1st quarter: Dream 11-12 Valkyries

Not exactly an offensive showcase so far, but no shortage of intensity. Golden State lead 14-12 after a first quarter in which the teams combined to shoot 11-for-33 (33.3%) from the floor and just 1-for-14 from three-point range.

The Valkyries have been particularly disruptive defensively, recording five blocked shots, including two from Gabby Williams, who has yet to score after missing all three of her attempts. Veronica Burton has carried the offensive load with six points on 3-for-4 shooting, while Kaila Charles has added four points and three rebounds.

Atlanta, meanwhile, have shot just 29.4% from the field, with Rhyne Howard going 1-for-5 and picking up two early fouls. Allisha Gray leads the Dream with five points, including their only three-pointer.

After Golden State’s 8-0 opening burst, this has settled into a tense, physical contest. Every basket feels hard-earned.

Updated

Dream 11-10 Valkyries, 2.16, 1st quarter

Atlanta have gone on an 11-2 run to take their first lead of Game 7, with Rhyne Howard’s turnaround fadeaway putting the Dream ahead 11-10 with 2min 16sec remaining in the opening quarter.

Allisha Gray sparked the comeback with a three-pointer from 27 feet, while Jordin Canada added a driving layup before Howard’s go-ahead basket. The Dream started 0-for-10 from the floor but have made five of their last five shots.

One early concern for Atlanta: Howard has already picked up two personal fouls.

Dream 7-8 Valkyries, 3.28, 1st quarter

The Dream are finally on the board after going more than five minutes without a point. Angel Reese opened Atlanta’s account with a running reverse layup off an offensive rebound, before Allisha Gray added another basket to cut Golden State’s lead to 8-4. Gray then connects from deep to pull the Dream within one.

The Valks’ defense has been the story so far, with Gabby Williams already recording two blocks. But Atlanta have bounced back nicely after an icy opening stretch.

Updated

Dream 0-8 Valkyries, 5.43, 1st quarter

A nightmare start for Atlanta on Halloween night! The Valkyries have scored the game’s first eight points, forcing Karl Smesko to call timeout less than a minute before he’d get one for free.

Golden State have been relentless defensively, with four different players recording blocked shots already. Kiah Stokes converted a putback layup before Kaila Charles swatted away a Rhyne Howard jumper, collected the rebound and drew a foul at the other end. Charles made both free throws to bring her tally to four points.

The Dream are still searching for their first basket more than four minutes into the biggest game in franchise history.

Dream 0-4 Valkyries, 7.00, 1st quarter

A superb defensive start from Golden State, who have held Atlanta scoreless through the opening three minutes. Veronica Burton blocked Allisha Gray’s early attempt before opening the scoring with a nine-foot fadeaway jumper, while Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes have also come up with blocks.

Kaila Charles has since added a driving layup off a Williams assist to make it 4-0 with 7min remaining in the first quarter. The Dream have yet to find their offensive rhythm, missing all six of their shots from the floor including a pair of missed threes by Rhyne Howard.

Tonight’s starting lineups

Not much longer now. They’ve just announced the starting fives for tonight’s winner-take-all Game 7 of the WNBA finals at Chase Center.

Atlanta Dream

  • No 3 Jordin Canada – Guard

  • No 15 Allisha Gray – Guard

  • No 10 Rhyne Howard – Guard

  • No 00 Naz Hillmon – Forward

  • No 5 Angel Reese – Forward

Golden State Valkyries

  • No 22 Veronica Burton – Guard

  • No 15 Tiffany Hayes – Guard

  • No 1 Gabby Williams – Forward

  • No 6 Kaila Charles – Guard/forward

  • No 41 Kiah Stokes – Center

Natalie Nakase’s Valkyries are chasing their first championship in only their second season, while Karl Smesko’s Dream are seeking the franchise’s first title in their fourth trip to the WNBA finals.

Here’s another measure of just how far the WNBA has come: tonight’s Game 7 is the most expensive ticket in US sports this weekend, according to ticketing analyst Keith Smith.

The cheapest seat at Chase Center was going for $364, comfortably ahead of Sunday’s Browns-Steelers ($265), Chiefs-Broncos ($264) and Ravens-Bills ($245) NFL games, as well as Saturday’s Florida-Georgia college football showdown ($226).

Smith notes that the winner-take-all clash between the Valkyries and Dream is on pace to become the most expensive WNBA finals game on record. Not bad for a league that, three years ago, would scarcely have figured into this conversation.

It’s Ballhallaween and these Valkyries fans understood the assignment. With Halloween falling on the night of the first Game 7 in WNBA history, supporters turned out in costumes of all kinds to celebrate outside Chase Center before tipoff. Here’s a look at some of the best outfits from a festive night in San Francisco.

How they got here

A quick refresher on how we ended up here. The Valkyries entered the playoffs as the No 2 seed, looking to build on a remarkable second season in which they established themselves among the WNBA’s elite. Their postseason began with a scare against the seventh-seeded Dallas Wings, who pushed them to a deciding third game before Golden State advanced 2-1.

From there, Natalie Nakase’s team found another gear. The Valkyries swept the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces in three games in the semi-finals, completing the job with an 87-77 overtime victory to reach the championship series for the first time. They’ve since traded blows with Atlanta through six games, taking a 3-2 lead before Thursday’s defeat denied them a chance to clinch the title on the road.

default

Atlanta’s path was more straightforward, at least until the finals. The fourth-seeded Dream swept the fifth-seeded Washington Mystics 2-0 in the opening round before dismantling the eighth-seeded New York Liberty, who had stunned the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round, in three straight games.

That sweep sent Atlanta to their first WNBA finals since 2013, with Karl Smesko’s team chasing the franchise’s maiden championship after previous appearances in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Dream took a 2-1 series lead before consecutive defeats left them facing elimination, only to respond with Thursday’s emphatic 80-69 victory at State Farm Arena.

Now, after 12 postseason games apiece, both teams stand one win from history.

Preamble

One game, 40 minutes and one first-time champion. After six bruising contests, several thousand cross-country miles and a series that has swung back and forth without either side managing to seize total control, the WNBA finals have come down to a Halloween night showdown in San Francisco. The Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream will settle everything tonight at Chase Center in the first Game 7 in league history, with a championship neither franchise has ever won hanging in the balance.

The Valkyries return home with a chance to complete a remarkable ascent, having reached the brink of a title in only their second season. Natalie Nakase’s team will have the backing of a raucous sellout crowd at Chase Center, where the atmosphere inside the arena known as Ballhalla promises to be particularly festive on Halloween night.

Schedule

Best-of-seven series. All times US Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Sat 17 Oct Game 1: Golden State 68, Atlanta 64

Mon 19 Oct Game 2: Atlanta 79, Golden State 65

Wed 21 Oct Game 3: Atlanta 97, Golden State 71

Sat 24 Oct Game 4: Golden State 67, Atlanta 62

Mon 26 Oct Game 5: Golden State 64, Atlanta 55

Thu 29 Oct Game 6: Atlanta 80, Golden State 69

Sat 31 Oct Game 7: Atlanta at Golden State, 8pm (USA/CNBC)

How to watch

In the US, the series will air on NBC, USA Network and CNBC, with all games streaming on Peacock. In the UK, it will be carried by Sky Sports. In Australia, fans can watch through WNBA League Pass, with selected coverage also available through ESPN.

But Atlanta have no intention of letting Golden State’s fairy tale have its happy ending. Facing elimination at a lunchtime tipoff on Thursday, the Dream rediscovered their offensive touch just as their title hopes were threatening to slip away, boat-racing the Valkyries 80-69 in a game where the final margin barely hinted at the scale of the hosts’ dominance.

Allisha Gray scored 23 points, Rhyne Howard added 21 and Angel Reese delivered her fourth double-double of the series as Atlanta buried six three-pointers in a blistering opening quarter and built a lead that ballooned to 25 points before half-time. Golden State, meanwhile, shot just 31.4% from the floor, wasting a 26-point performance from Gabby Williams.

The WNBA adopted a best-of-seven finals format last year, only for the inaugural edition to end in a four-game sweep. This time, the extended format has delivered the ultimate decider. After six games have left nothing to separate these teams, Halloween night will produce a new champion.

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at Thursday’s Game 6.

Related: Dream serve up lunchtime rout of Valkyries to force historic WNBA finals Game 7