The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries meet Monday with the WNBA Finals tied 2-2, setting up a winner-take-near-edge Game 5 at Chase Center. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET, with the Dream looking to seize control on the road and the Valkyries looking to protect home court after alternating wins and losses through the first four games. The series has swung wildly, with road teams winning three of the four contests, and the biggest question heading into Monday is whether Atlanta guard Allisha Gray will be available after being listed as day-to-day.
Game 5 Information
- Date: Monday, Oct. 26
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
- TV/Streaming: USA Net, CNBC
- Series: WNBA Finals, tied 2-2
Is Allisha Gray Available For Atlanta?
Gray is listed as day-to-day with a left hand injury, and her return date is listed as Oct. 26, the same day as Game 5. She leads the Dream in scoring at 19.0 points per game this season, and her absence or limited availability would put more scoring pressure on Angel Reese and Jordin Canada. Atlanta is also without guard Matilde Villa, held out by coach’s decision, and forward Brionna Jones, who remains out with a left leg injury.
How Has Each Team Played In The Last Five Games?
The two teams have split their last four Finals meetings down the middle, each winning twice since Oct. 17. Golden State won Game 4 on Oct. 24 by a score of 67-62, evening the series after Atlanta had taken Game 3 97-71 just two days earlier. That 26-point swing from one game to the next underscores how uneven the series has been. Atlanta enters 30-14 overall, while Golden State is 32-12, with the Valkyries sitting second in the Western Conference standings behind Minnesota and the Dream sitting atop the East.
Is Iliana Rupert Available For Golden State?
Valkyries center Iliana Rupert is out for a reason listed as not injury related, with her return date listed as May 2027, meaning she will not factor into Game 5. Golden State’s frontcourt scoring and rebounding load falls to Kiah Stokes, who leads the team at 5.8 rebounds per game, while Gabby Williams paces Golden State in scoring at 14.4 points per game and Veronica Burton runs the offense at 5.7 assists per game.
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Atlanta 85.0, Golden State 79.3
- Field goal percentage: Atlanta 40.4%, Golden State 38.7%
- Two-point field goal percentage: Atlanta 45.4%, Golden State 42.5%
- Three-point percentage: Golden State 33.1%, Atlanta 31.7%
- Assists per game: Atlanta 18.4, Golden State 15.5
- Turnovers per game: Golden State 10.5, Atlanta 10.3
- Offensive rebounds per game: Golden State 10.3, Atlanta 8.2
- Defensive rebounds per game: Golden State 26.9, Atlanta 25.7
- Steals per game: Atlanta 9.3, Golden State 7.1
- Free throw percentage: Atlanta 83.8%, Golden State 82.4%
Atlanta Dream Outlook
Atlanta’s offense has been the more efficient of the two all season, averaging 85.0 points per game compared to Golden State’s 79.3, and the Dream also hold the edge in assists at 18.4 per game against 15.5 for the Valkyries, a sign of their ball movement. Angel Reese has been the engine of that attack in the Finals, leading the team at 12.1 rebounds per game during the regular season and continuing that production into the postseason. Atlanta’s 9.3 steals per game also outpace Golden State’s 7.1, giving the Dream a transition edge when their pressure defense forces turnovers. The Dream’s free throw rate stands out too, shooting 83.8% from the line compared to Golden State’s 82.4%, which could matter in a close fourth quarter.
Golden State Valkyries Outlook
Golden State’s identity runs through its glass work, out-rebounding Atlanta on both ends of the floor with 10.3 offensive rebounds per game to Atlanta’s 8.2 and 26.9 defensive rebounds per game to Atlanta’s 25.7. Jordin Canada’s absence from Golden State’s roster is not an issue, since she plays for Atlanta, but the Valkyries will need Kiah Stokes to continue controlling the glass without Rupert available inside. Golden State also holds a three-point shooting edge at 33.1% compared to Atlanta’s 31.7%, a number that matters given how often the series has been decided by single-digit margins. Veronica Burton’s all-around production, which includes 5.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, has kept Golden State competitive in ball security, with the Valkyries and Dream nearly even in turnovers per game.
Key Matchup
The rebounding battle looms largest. Golden State averages 10.3 offensive boards per game against Atlanta’s 8.2, and with Rupert sidelined, that workload falls even more heavily on Stokes and the Valkyries’ perimeter players to crash the glass. Atlanta, meanwhile, has leaned on Reese’s rebounding and the Dream’s 9.3 steals per game to create extra possessions. Whichever team wins the turnover and rebounding margins in Game 5 is likely to control tempo, given how tightly matched the two sides are in scoring efficiency.
Players To Watch
Angel Reese, Dream
Reese has been Atlanta’s most consistent two-way force in the series, and her regular-season averages of 16.4 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game have translated into a dominant Finals stretch, as detailed in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of her double-double streak.
Allisha Gray, Dream
Gray’s day-to-day status with a left hand injury makes her participation one of the biggest variables for Game 5, given she leads Atlanta in scoring at 19.0 points per game.
Gabby Williams, Valkyries
Williams leads Golden State in scoring at 14.4 points per game and will be relied on to generate offense against an Atlanta defense that ranks ahead of Golden State in steals per game.
What To Watch
A Dream win would push Atlanta to the brink of its first title in this matchup, while a Valkyries win would force a decisive Game 6. Golden State is already playing with the knowledge of what elimination football feels like in this series, a topic Total Apex Sports examined after Game 4. The road team has won three of the first four games, a trend that adds intrigue to a true road environment at Chase Center. Game 6, if necessary, would follow later in the week.
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