Reese Takes Over Ballhalla: Dream Even the Finals 1-1 With 30 and 16 as the Series Shifts to State Farm Arena

By Danielle "Dee" Ortiz, RF Sports Radio WNBA Playoffs voice

WNBA fans, the Finals finally have a pulse. Golden State held serve in a grinder Saturday. Monday night, Angel Reese demanded the ball, got it, and walked out of Chase Center with the series tied and the momentum headed east.

The facts

The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 79-65 on Monday, Oct. 19, in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center to even the best-of-seven series 1-1, per WNBA.com and the AP. Golden State won Game 1 on Saturday, 68-64.

Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds on 10-of-16 shooting after going scoreless in the second half of Game 1. Per the AP, she became the third player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game, joining Jonquel Jones (2019) and Breanna Stewart (2020). Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals, Allisha Gray scored 18, and Jordin Canada had 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. It was the first Finals win in Dream history after an 0-10 mark in three previous trips.

The game turned in the third quarter. Tied 40-40, Atlanta ripped off a 29-8 run, per Valkyries.com. Golden State shot 34.4% and went 7-of-24 from three; Gabby Williams, who scored 26 in Game 1, had 14 on 3-of-15 shooting. Atlanta scored 24 points off Golden State's 19 turnovers. Golden State's bench outscored Atlanta's 33-11. It was the Valkyries' first regulation loss since Aug. 21.

Game 3 is Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. Central on USA and Peacock at State Farm Arena, moved from the Dream's 3,500-seat Gateway Center so more fans can attend. The series returns to Chase Center for Game 5 on Monday, Oct. 26. There is no Dallas Wings angle in this Finals.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Game 2 was the Dream's identity game. Atlanta had just eight points off turnovers in the opener and 24 on Monday. That is the formula that got them here, and Reese said it plainly: "We just got back to our identity." When Atlanta's guards turn defense into layups, Golden State's half-court offense has no margin.

The Valkyries' bench was great. That is the problem. When your reserves outscore theirs by 22 and you still lose by 14, your starters got beat. Williams cannot shoot 3-of-15 again. Veronica Burton said it best: "We shot terribly."

My call: Dream win Game 3 in front of a big Atlanta crowd and take a 2-1 lead, and this series goes at least six. That is a prediction, not a report. If Golden State's starters shoot like they did in the regular season, the Valkyries steal home court right back.

What to watch next

Watch Reese's foul count, Atlanta's points off turnovers, and Williams' shot selection Wednesday at 7 p.m. Central. For the Finals Eve preview, read our Oct. 16 WNBA Finals Eve preview, and follow the WNBA Playoffs page.

Radio question: after Game 2, who is the best player in this series — Angel Reese or Gabby Williams — and who wins it?

Sources: WNBA.com — Game recap: Dream vs. Valkyries, Finals Game 2; WNBA.com — Game 2 box score; Valkyries.com — Valkyries drop Game 2 of WNBA Finals; AP News — Reese has 30 and 16 as Dream even Finals.