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Why did Dream win Game 2 vs. Valkyries? Allisha Gray’s 2-word answer is epic
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- Why did Dream win Game 2 vs. Valkyries? Allisha Gray’s 2-word answer is epic
Why did Dream win Game 2 vs. Valkyries? Allisha Gray's 2-word answer is epic appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Allisha Gray needed just two words to explain how the Atlanta Dream bounced back in the 2026 WNBA Finals: "Angel Reese." The Dream forward delivered a dominant 30-point, 16-rebound performance to power Atlanta past the Golden State Valkyries, 79-65 , in Game 2 at Chase Center. The win evened the championship series at one game apiece. After struggling to find its footing in the opener, Atlanta flipped the script behind Reese's relentless interior presence . That overwhelmed Golden State's defense and created opportunities for the rest of the lineup.
Gray added 18 points, while Rhyne Howard made Finals history with six steals. That helped the Dream control the game on both ends. Reese, though, was the undisputed centerpiece. She imposed her will from the opening tip and gave Atlanta the physical edge it needed to secure the franchise's first WNBA Finals victory. When asked what made the difference after the final buzzer, Gray pointed directly to her teammate with the succinct response that said it all. Reese's performance gave the Dream renewed belief as the series shifts to Georgia.
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Atlanta's championship push has been building all season. The Dream tied a franchise record with 30 regular-season wins to earn the No. 3 seed. They then swept the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty to reach the Finals undefeated in the postseason. Their Game 1 loss to Golden State was the first real setback of their playoff run. However, Game 2 showed how quickly they can respond when Reese anchors the offense and defense. Gray's scoring and Howard's disruptive defense further demonstrated the depth behind Atlanta's star forward. With the series now tied 1-1 and the next games moving to Atlanta, the Dream have a chance to turn Reese's breakthrough Finals performance into a championship-defining run.
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