Valkyries Lead by 16 in Final Quarter to Force Game 6

Kiah Stokes anchored a defensive effort that held the Atlanta Dream to a 29.2% field goal percentage, the fourth-lowest mark for a team in any WNBA Finals game. The Golden State Valkyries used that pressure to win Game 5 on Monday night in San Francisco, taking a 3-2 series lead with a 64-55 victory.

The Valkyries built a 16-point lead late in the fourth quarter after forcing 17 turnovers. Those mistakes resulted in 21 points for Golden State, which also limited Atlanta to just 18 points in the paint. The 64 points scored by Golden State represent the fewest in a Finals win since 2005, while the combined 119 points were the fifth fewest in a Finals contest.

Stokes, a three-time WNBA champion and three-time NCAA title winner, has dominated the defensive end of the floor throughout this series. When she contests shots, Atlanta is just 9-for-48 from the field and 0-for-8 on three-point attempts. She has recorded at least three blocks in six consecutive games, tying Lisa Leslie for the longest such streak in a single WNBA playoff season.

Her presence has also neutralized Dream star Angel Reese. After scoring 51 points across Games 2 and 3, Reese managed only 7 points on Monday. This marks only the second time in her career that she has been held to single digits in consecutive games.

Offense was scarce for both teams, but Stokes contributed when it was needed. Her 13 points tied her season high and were the second-most she has scored in a playoff game. Her three successful three-pointers matched or exceeded her total from entire seasons in six of her 11 years in the league.

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said she heard fans at Ballhalla chanting for Stokes to be named MVP if the team wins the title. "I heard chants. Ballhalla, I appreciate you guys," Nakase said. Teammate Veronica Burton added, "We're not here without Kiah."

Dream coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the difficulty of containing Stokes. "She has great length. She has great instincts. She's really good at protecting the rim," Smesko said. He noted that his team must get her moving more to prevent her from packing the paint, while still giving her credit for her play.

Stokes is in her first season with the Valkyries after playing for the New York Liberty and Las Vegas Aces. She contributed to all three Aces championships during a four-year span there. Nakase has praised Stokes for her leadership and composure, noting she has nearly 50 postseason games under her belt.

"I always know what I brought to a team. I always understood my value," Stokes said. "But just to hear an arena full of 18,000 fans, it really makes me feel appreciated and loved."

The Valkyries can clinch the championship with a win Thursday at Atlanta's State Farm Arena, or Saturday back at Chase Center. Stokes said the team will not treat Game 6 as an opportunity to relax. "As much as we love Ballhalla, we don't want to come back here," she said. "So we need to go in with the mentality that we have to win. It's do or die."