Atlanta showed up, and the Dream showed out. The Atlanta Dream played Game 3 of the WNBA Finals in front of a sold-out State Farm Arena on Wednesday night, then beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 to take a 2-1 series lead.
From 3,500 Seats to 17,000
The Dream usually play at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, which holds about 3,500 fans and is the smallest arena in the league, according to Front Office Sports. For the team’s first Finals home games, the WNBA and the Dream moved Games 3 and 4 downtown to the Hawks’ 17,000-seat arena after working out scheduling conflicts, the AJC reports. Game 3 moved up a day, from Thursday to Wednesday, to clear a concert already booked at the arena.
It worked. The AJC and Front Office Sports both report the arena sold out for Game 3. State Farm Arena CEO Steve Koonin told Front Office Sports the building wants “to be partners” with the Dream and the WNBA. That partnership is getting bigger: the Dream have already said State Farm Arena will be their home next season.
Angel Reese and Company Handle Business
With the crowd behind them, the Dream took control. Angel Reese led the way with 21 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and three steals, including both of her three-point tries, per CBS Sports. Rhyne Howard added 16, Naz Hillmon had 15, Isobel Borlase scored 12 and Jordin Canada chipped in 10.
CBS Sports notes Reese is now the only player besides A’ja Wilson to post back-to-back 20-point, 10-rebound games in the Finals. Atlanta is also undefeated this season when she makes a three. Golden State, meanwhile, hasn’t shot better than 35% in any game of the series.
This run is already historic. Monday’s 79-65 win in San Francisco was the first WNBA Finals win in franchise history, Yahoo Sports reports. Now the Dream are two wins away from the franchise’s first title.
What’s Next
Game 4 is Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. at State Farm Arena. It opens a downtown doubleheader, with the Hawks’ home opener against Houston at 8:30 p.m. CBS Sports called Saturday “essentially a must-win” for Golden State.
Why it matters: A sold-out NBA arena for a women’s championship series is a statement about Atlanta, and about how far the women’s game has come. If the Dream win two more, this city gets a title, and it’ll have happened in front of its biggest crowd.
Rocking red and blue this weekend? Tag us in your game-day looks, and join N’Style Insider or become one of The 800 founding members for more Atlanta culture.
Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Front Office Sports, CBS Sports, Yahoo Sports, ESPN
