Kiah Stokes Carries Valkyries Past Dream, One Win From WNBA Title

The Golden State Valkyries stand one win from a WNBA championship after defeating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 on Monday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, taking a 3-2 series edge in the Finals. The result puts the franchise in position to claim the title in just its second season of existence. Game 6 is set for Thursday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, with a possible Game 7 on Saturday back in San Francisco.

Kiah Stokes drove the result at both ends of the floor. The veteran forward scored 13 points, matching her season high and falling one short of her playoff career best, and drilled three 3-pointers. That total from beyond the arc matched or exceeded her output in six of her 11 WNBA seasons. Her work on the other end limited Atlanta: the Dream went 9-for-48 from the field and 0-for-8 on 3-pointers when she contested a shot.

Golden State's defense set the terms early and led by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter. Atlanta shot 29.2% for the game, the fourth-lowest clip by any team in a WNBA Finals contest, and committed 17 turnovers that the Valkyries turned into 21 points. The Dream also managed just 18 points in the paint. Golden State's 64 points were the fewest in a Finals win since 2005, and the teams' combined 119 points were the fifth fewest in a Finals game.

Stokes has anchored that defensive effort throughout the series. She has now posted three or more blocks in six straight games, a run that ties Lisa Leslie for the longest such stretch in a single WNBA postseason. Her length has also blunted Angel Reese, who scored 51 points across Games 2 and 3 before being held to 7 on Monday. It marked the second time in Reese's career she has been held to single digits in consecutive games.

Atlanta coach Karl Smesko said his team must create more movement to dislodge her. "She has great length. She has great instincts. She's really good at protecting the rim," Smesko said. "We've just got to get her moving a little bit more, make it a little bit harder for her to just pack it in the paint, but give her credit."

Stokes joined the Valkyries this season after stints in New York and Las Vegas, where she contributed to all three Aces titles across a four-year span. She has never averaged more than 7 points or 28 minutes in a season. Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said Stokes would be the team's MVP if it closes the series. "I heard chants. Ballhalla, I appreciate you guys," Nakase said. Veronica Burton added: "We're not here without Kiah."

Fans at Ballhalla chanted "MVP" as Stokes addressed the crowd after the game, and she said the response from the arena of 18,000 supporters carried weight. "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 with a win Thursday or Saturday. Stokes said the team will not treat the trip east as a chance to ease off. "As much as we love Ballhalla, we don't want to come back here," Stokes said. "So we need to go in with the mentality that we have to win. It's do or die."