• Dream win 80-69 to level best-of-seven series at 3-3

• First Game 7 in WNBA history set for Saturday night

• Ella Brockway’s minute-by-minute report of Game 6

The Atlanta Dream had no intention of letting a matinee become their curtain call.

Facing elimination at a lunchtime tipoff, the Dream overwhelmed the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon to force a decisive seventh game in the WNBA finals, rediscovering their offensive touch just as their title hopes were threatening to slip away.

• Dream host Valkyries in opener of best-of-seven series

• Dream say concerns went unheeded for 12.30pm start

• Reach out to Ella on Bluesky or by email

Valkyries 5-8 Dream, 6.41, first quarter

Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton scored the game’s first points with a floater jumper, but Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon punched back quickly with a pair of threes for Atlanta. The Dream needed to start this game on a fast note, and they have. The home crowd is loving it in Atlanta.

Jordin Canada (#3)

Allisha Gray (#15)

Rhyne Howard (#10)

Naz Hillmon (#00)

Angel Reese (#5)

Veronica Burton (#22)

Tiffany Hayes (#15)

Gabby Williams (#1)

Kaila Charles (#6)

Kiah Stokes (#41)