The Golden State Valkyries let an opportunity to win their first WNBA Finals slip away, but they can rectify that in the first-ever Game 7 in league history.
Whether or not the start time of Game 6 played a factor is a moot point at this juncture. At the end of the day, the Atlanta Dream won at State Farm Arena, but there was no panic from Natalie Nakase, nor from her star players, Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton.
Poise and focus have defined the Valkyries all season, and they understand what it takes to win a best-of-seven series. At this point, we know the key figures. The key adjustments have been made. What Golden State must do is execute their game plan and force the Dream to play Valkyries-style basketball at Chase Center.
Atlanta will aim to punch first, and it's up to Golden State to match that energy. That was one flaw Williams and Burton cited after Game 6. There was a lack of ball pressure, which allowed open shooters, and it also allowed Angel Reese to get more involved on offense as a drive-and-kick player.
That will be the key thing to look out for in Game 7: The Reese-Kiah Stokes matchup. Nakase noted in her postgame press conference that Stokes' "legs weren't moving as well as (Laeticia Amihere's)," which was why Stokes didn't play much in the second half. Is that due to fatigue in a best-of-seven series? Did her internal body clock not adjust to the weekday 12:30 ET start time, or has Reese figured out Stokes? How Stokes responds could decide Game 7.
There certainly will be regression after the Dream shot 13-for-13 (43.3%) from three. However, it's up to the Valkyries to set the tone early and make every shot difficult for Atlanta.
This starts with limiting transition opportunities for the Dream and getting set on defense quicker. It might not result in pretty basketball for neutrals, but you have to do whatever it takes to win a championship.
That goes to the other end. Nakase's side went with quantity over quality when it came to shot attempts in their wins in Game 4 and Game 5. The Valkyries know they aren't the most efficient scoring team, but if they stayed aggressive when they attacked the basket and tried to increase 3-point volume up, positive regression should be on their side.
They went away from that in the first three quarters of Game 6, but they stepped it up in the fourth quarter, especially Williams. That will be something Golden State should hope carries over to Game 7.
Game 6 was the first time Williams scored over 20 points in the WNBA Finals. She and Tiffany Hayes are entrusted to keep up rim pressure on offense to try to open up shooters. That is the kind of mentality that must be carried over in Game 7 to build up enough offense to help the franchise win the WNBA Finals in just its second season.
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