Reese Leads Dream to 97-71 Game 3 Win, 2-1 WNBA Finals Lead Angel Reese had 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals as the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA Finals. Reese is the first player in league history with a double-double in her first three Finals games. Angel Reese had 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 97-71 on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals. Reese shot 7-of-12 from the field and now has a double-double in each game of the Finals. She is the first player in league history with a double-double in her first three WNBA Finals games. Rhyne Howard added 16 points and Naz Hillmon had 15 for the Dream, who host Game 4 on Saturday. Jordin Canada added eight assists for Atlanta.Angel Reese Sets WNBA Finals RecordReese had 30 points and 16 rebounds in Game 2, the Dream's first Finals win ever. She became the youngest player in WNBA Finals history to record at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive games, joining A'ja Wilson as the only players to accomplish that feat. It feels good when you're in the finals, Reese said.It's a long season and you play against everybody and go through and push through, but when you can do it at the highest level, this is what you live for, this is what the offseason is for. I put the work in for this moment and I'm just happy I could lead the team to a win.Reese started to trash talk early when she drove to the basket on Valkyries center Aminata Gueye and made the bucket while being fouled in the first quarter. She can't f-k with me, Reese appeared to say as her shot gave the Dream an 8-1 lead, and she was chirping in front of the Golden State bench as she made her way to the free throw line.In the fourth quarter, USA Network cameras captured Reese seemingly taunting Gueye from the Dream bench with roughly 30 seconds left as Atlanta held a large lead. Dream center Madina Okot hit a contested jumper over Gueye to give Atlanta a 94-69 advantage, and Reese appeared to have some words for Gueye. With the game tied at 49 in the third quarter, Atlanta scored eight straight, including four by Reese.Atlanta Dream Dominate Third QuarterAfter Howard put the Dream back in front, Reese made two free throws, assisted on an Isobel Borlase layup and scored on a running layup herself to complete an 8-0 run and give Atlanta a 57-49 lead. Golden State got within 59-55 on Tiffany Hayes' layup, but could get no closer as Atlanta closed the quarter scoring 12 of the final 14 points.DeWanna Bonner hit a three to start a 12-2 finish to the period, scoring five points during that stretch. Atlanta has dominated the third quarter so far in the series, outscoring Golden State 63-35 combined in the three games. With Atlanta up 17 in the fourth quarter, Canada overthrew Reese on the break, but Reese saved the ball by throwing it over her head underneath the basket to Howard, who got fouled. Golden State's Gabby Williams finished with 15 points.WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Janelle Salaun had 11 for the Valkyries. This game was originally scheduled to be played on Thursday at Gateway Center Arena, where the Dream play most of their home games. The league worked with the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena to play the next two games of the championship series there so they could have a much bigger crowd. Gateway only seats 3,500.Dream Protect Home Court at ArenaState Farm Arena can seat more than 17,000 fans. Protect home court, Howard said of the team's focus. Giving our fans a show. We fought for this arena so we had to protect it.It's big. We went and stole one but we can't let them come in and do the same thing. Wednesday night's game was sold out, as is Game 4 on Saturday, which will also be played at State Farm Arena. Game 5, if necessary, would also be there.The game got off to a slow start as Atlanta led 9-1 after the first five minutes. Golden State missed its first eight shots before Gueye scored the first basket for the Valkyries with 4:39 left. Reese scored Atlanta's first basket and finished the opening quarter with eight points, including a three-pointer that pushed the Dream's lead to 22-12. Golden State got within 13-10 before Hillmon hit consecutive 3-pointers and then Reese hit one.The Dream led 23-15 after the opening quarter. The hot 3-point shooting continued in the second quarter as Atlanta built its lead to 37-26 midway through the period. Golden State hung around and only trailed 46-40 at the break as the teams combined to shoot 15-for-31, 48%, from behind the arc. That was more made 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes than in either Game 1 or Game 2.Enes Kanter Freedom Removed From GameReese added another three in the second quarter and went into halftime with 15 points, matching her first-half total from Game 2. The Valkyries made a push to start the third. Cecilia Zandalasini hit two threes in the opening 68 seconds, and Golden State tied the game at 48, then again at 49. Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was going to be at the game.The Atlanta Dream and State Farm Arena offered him a private suite for his protection. He refused to sit in it and was removed from the game. He left the WNBA Finals after sparring with police over a seating change amid security concerns. Game 1 and Game 2 had huge ratings.The opener on NBC averaged 2.1 million viewers, the most ever to watch a first game of the Finals. Game 2, which was broadcast on USA Network, averaged 1.33 million viewers. The Dream won a WNBA Finals game for the first time on Monday in Game 2. Two nights later, Reese helped them take their first lead in a Finals series.Both teams are playing for their first WNBA title, with the Valkyries competing for a championship in their second season after becoming the league's 13th expansion team in May 2025. The best-of-seven series continues Saturday at State Farm Arena with Atlanta leading 2-1.