Dream and Valkyries face historic Game 7 in WNBA Finals

Atlanta entered Game 6 with no room for another defeat. Golden State led the series 3-2, leaving the Dream facing elimination at home, according to CBS Sports.

The stakes were substantial for both teams. Sky Sports reported that the Valkyries could win a championship in just their second year of existence, while an Atlanta victory would force the first Game 7 in WNBA history.

On October 28, the Dream announced that Game 6 was sold out despite criticism of its 12:30 p.m. ET start, CBC News reported. The unusual timing put a potential championship decider in the middle of the working day.

The October 29 game went ahead in that lunchtime slot, with a corresponding 9:30 a.m. start on the West Coast, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The scheduling dispute had become a prominent part of the buildup, but it did not prevent Atlanta from filling the building.

The Dream then won 80-69. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21 as Atlanta held off a late Golden State rally, NBC News reported. The result tied the series at 3-3 and took the championship to a seventh game.

The crowd was part of the story, too. CBS Sports reported that Atlanta drew energy from its sold-out home support and rediscovered its confidence despite the awkward afternoon circumstances.

The championship now comes down to one game, with both teams chasing their first title. An October 30 preview from CBS Sports places Game 7 in San Francisco on Saturday night. ESPN also identifies Halloween as the deciding date.

There is a discrepancy in the coverage: BBC Sport listed the decider as Sunday. The later previews identify Saturday, October 31, as the game date.

Atlanta's immediate task is to carry its Game 6 scoring into the decider. Gray and Howard combined for 44 points, while Golden State's late rally showed that the Valkyries remained a threat even in defeat, according to NBC News.

For Golden State, offensive support around Gabby Williams is another point of attention. L'Équipe focused its October 31 preview on Williams as an offensive leader needing help in the final game. With the series level, neither team has another chance after this.