With the WNBA Finals series tied 2-2, the Golden State Valkyries entered Game 5 knowing a victory would put them one win away from the title. And after a hard-fought 40-minute battle, the Valkyries secured a 64-55 victory at Chase Center to take a 3-2 series lead. However, the final score was only part of the story.

Angel Reese picked up two fouls in the first quarter, while an officiating controversy involving Kayla Thornton added another layer to an already tense matchup. Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase also stuck with the starting lineup that helped the Valkyries bounce back in Game 4 after consecutive losses. So with several key moments shaping the contest, Monday’s game delivered plenty to unpack beyond the scoreboard.

Here are the key takeaways from Golden State’s pivotal win over Atlanta.

Angel Booed Amid Officiating Controversy

Reese’s aggressive approach in the paint has been a key part of her game, but one early sequence against the Valkyries sparked a debate over whether the officials should have taken a closer look at the contact. With just over two minutes left in the first quarter, Reese drove inside for a layup with Kayla Thornton defending closely. As she tried to get past the Valkyries forward, Reese swung her elbow into Thornton’s face, sending her to the floor clutching her face.

The officials immediately called an offensive foul on Reese, but they did not review the contact for a possible upgrade to a technical or flagrant foul. That decision quickly became a talking point among fans.

“Unbelievable. Angel Reese uses her elbow to viciously strike the defender in the face. Refs don’t even review! The broadcast calls it ‘inadvertent’ lol. What’s going on with these WNBA refs??,” one fan wrote on X.

The decision not to review the play became even more noticeable as the game continued. On the very next possession, Thornton responded by drilling a 24-foot three-pointer to put Golden State ahead 13-8, giving the Valkyries an immediate boost after the collision.

Reese, meanwhile, soon found herself facing a hostile environment as the Ballhalla crowd made its feelings clear. With 1:39 left on the clock, she converted a two-point shot while drawing a foul from Kaila Charles, earning an and-one opportunity at the free-throw line. However, the Atlanta Dream star was greeted by loud boos from the crowd as she stepped to the stripe.

She still converted the free throw, cutting Golden State’s lead to just two points. However, the sequence kept the officiating decision in the spotlight, with fans questioning whether the contact on Thornton warranted a closer look from the officials.

Dream HC’s Costly Challenge Comes Under Fire in WNBA Finals

The Atlanta Dream needed every possession to count in a tightly contested Game 5 of the WNBA Finals, making Head Coach Karl Smesko’s decision to challenge an offensive foul in the third quarter a costly gamble. With 6:37 remaining in the period, Allisha Gray tried to drive inside off a Naz Hillmon screen while Tiffany Hayes defended her. As Gray cut toward the paint, she collided with Hayes, who had been held up by Hillmon’s screen. Both players went down clutching their faces, prompting the officials to whistle Gray for an offensive foul.

Smesko challenged the call, hoping to get the decision overturned. However, after reviewing the play, the officials upheld the original ruling, leaving the Dream to surrender possession while also losing a timeout.

WNBA reporter Myles Ehrlich criticized the timing of this challenge from the coach, writing: “Awful challenge there. Eat the change in possession and keep that in your pocket for later in the game.”

In a game where scoring had already been hard to come by, this lost timeout proved significant as the Dream looked to close the gap against Golden State.

Valkyries’ Defense Stifles Angel Reese at Halftime

Golden State turned Game 5 into a defensive battle, leaving Atlanta struggling to find their rhythm offensively. Although Atlanta held a one-point lead after the first quarter, Golden State took a 25-22 advantage into halftime, with both teams making history for all the wrong reasons on the offensive end.

According to ESPN reporter Kendra Andrews, this is the first time in WNBA Finals history that both teams have scored 25 or fewer points in the first half. The Valkyries shot just 30% from the field, but Atlanta fared even worse at 24%, unable to find consistent scoring against Golden State’s defensive pressure. The Valkyries recorded eight stocks (steals + blocks) and forced six turnovers by the end of the first half, making every possession a challenge for the Dream.

Veronica Burton led all scorers with nine points after attacking the paint and creating opportunities for her teammates in the opening quarter. Ceci Zandalasini added another five points, while Kiah Stokes had four points and five rebounds, helping Golden State maintain its slim advantage.

Atlanta, meanwhile, struggled. Rhyne Howard had six points, while Angel Reese and Allisha Gray had five apiece.

It is also worth noting that Reese’s scoring stalled after a productive first quarter. All five of her points came in the opening period, as she went scoreless in the second quarter.

So despite trailing by just three points, Atlanta needed to find answers against Golden State’s relentless defense after scoring only 22 points in the first half.

Valkyries fan sends a clear message as Game 6 scheduling mess looms over WNBA Finals

The Dream and the Valkyries are chasing their first championship in their respective franchise histories, but the Finals have an unusual scheduling problem waiting in the wings.

With the series now 3-2 in favor of Golden State, Game 6 at State Farm Arena becomes a potential championship-clinching game on Thursday, October 29. However, the arena faces a scheduling conflict, with the Atlanta Hawks set to host the Cleveland Cavaliers later that evening.

To keep the WNBA Finals at State Farm Arena rather than return to the much smaller Gateway Center Arena, Game 6 has been moved to a 12:30 p.m. ET tip-off. The Hawks’ game will follow at 8 p.m. ET, leaving a tight window to clear the court and prepare the venue for the NBA matchup if the WNBA series ends in six games.

This scheduling dilemma has already made its way into the stands, with fans now making their frustrations clear. According to USA Today reporter Meghan L. Hall, a Valkyries fan attending Game 5 held up a sign that read, “Move the Hawks game. Women = Prime Time.”

The message captured the scheduling debate surrounding a potential championship-deciding game being played in the middle of a Thursday workday. The early tip-off could make attending or watching the game difficult for working fans, while the compressed turnaround raises questions about whether the winning team will have enough time to celebrate on the court before the Hawks take over the arena.

Atlanta now has no room for error. After suffering back-to-back losses, the Dream must find a way to respond in Game 6 on their home court to keep their championship hopes alive. Another defeat would end Atlanta’s title hopes and hand Golden State its first championship in franchise history.