Angel Reese gets 30 points, 16 rebounds as Dream beat Valkyries 79-65 to even WNBA Finals at 1-1

Angel Reese of the Atlanta Dream goes up against Aminata Gueye of the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday.Ezra Shaw / GettyShareAdd NBC News to GoogleOct. 19, 2026, 10:47 PM EDT / Source: The Associated PressBy The Associated PressSAN FRANCISCO — Angel Reese had 30 points and 16 rebounds, Allisha Gray added 18 points and the Atlanta Dream stymied Golden State on both ends in the second half, beating the Valkyries 79-65 on Monday night to even the best-of-seven WNBA Finals at one game apiece.

Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals, while Jordin Canada contributed 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Dream earned the franchise’s first Finals victory after going winless in three previous trips — 0-10 overall. They now head home having salvaged a split in front of the boisterous “Ballhalla” crowd at Chase Center.

Reese became the third player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game, joining Jonquel Jones for Connecticut in 2019 and Breanna Stewart for Seattle in 2020.

Chase Center holds 18,064 and has sold out every game since the Valkyries began playing last year.

Foul trouble almost did in the Dream this time — but Reese simply wouldn’t have it. She went scoreless in the second half of the opener but delivered the big baskets and key defensive stops two days later, finishing 10 for 16 from the floor while dishing out three assists and blocking two shots.

Atlanta scored 24 points off Golden State’s 19 turnovers to hand the Valkyries their first loss in regulation since a 73-70 defeat at Chicago on Aug. 21.

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