WNBA Finals live: Valkyries-Dream Game 6 analysis, updates and highlights

ATLANTA -- When the WNBA Finals resume Thursday, will we crown a champion or end up returning to San Francisco for Game 7?

The Atlanta Dream host the Golden State Valkyries in a matinee Thursday at State Farm Arena in a must-win: Golden State leads the best-of-seven series 3-2 and looks to clinch the franchise's first WNBA championship in just its second season.

For the Dream, who have lost back-to-back games after taking a 2-1 lead, it's extend the season or watch the Valkyries celebrate a title on their floor.

If Atlanta wins, the series shifts back to the Valkyries' Chase Center and Ballhalla for a decisive Game 7 on Saturday.

ESPN is on site at State Farm Arena, providing live analysis, reaction and highlights.

This is the game where Allisha Gray has looked most like herself. She is now up to 12 points and is 5 of 7 from the field. It makes sense that as more time has passed since her hand injury, she is more comfortable. -- Michael Voepel

Rhyne Howard picked the right game to have her best performance these playoffs. She's now up to 19 points on 6 for 10 shooting (4 for 6 from 3). The Dream have gotten so much more out of their guards today and it's made all the difference. -- Alexa Philippou

Angel Reese looks like she's frustrated at the officiating -- first at some no-calls from when she was on offense and thought she was fouled, and then that last play looked like a pure frustration foul. She's up to 3 fouls and 3 turnovers so far today and while she hasn't done much scoring-wise, she still has 10 rebounds and five assists. -- Alexa Philippou

Veronica Burton just earned a flagrant 1 for a foul on Rhyne Howard, who makes both of the ensuing free throws. -- Alexa Philippou

A slow start so far to third quarter. But not surprising after all the Dream fireworks of the first half. -- Michael Voepel

T-Pain is the halftime performance today... you can't tell at all it's 1:30 p.m. on a Thursday in State Farm. -- Alexa Philippou

Coach Karl Smesko wants Angel Reese to take 3-pointers when she is open, but she needs to develop a little more confidence about when it's really the right shot for her. That will come as she becomes more comfortable with that shot. Her bread and butter will always be inside, but the 3-pointer may be a weapon at some point. -- Michael Voepel

It wasn't as high-scoring of a second quarter for Atlanta, but it didn't matter. The Dream led by as many as 25 and remain in full control. Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray have combined for 21 points, almost as many as the entire Valkyries team. Angel Reese has also created 20 points single-handedly between her own scoring and her facilitating (five assists).

This is one of the largest halftime leads in WNBA Finals history (the actual largest is 22 points), and the largest halftime lead in WNBA Finals history from a team facing elimination. Barring some sort of unbelievable comeback, this thing's headed back to SF for a Game 7. -- Alexa Philippou

Entering Game 6, the Dream are 15-0 this season when Angel Reese makes a 3, including 6-0 in the playoffs and 2-0 in the Finals. -- ESPN Research

The only Dream player who has appeared in the game but has yet to score so far is DeWanna Bonner. -- Michael Voepel

A timeout performance of "Knuck If You Buck" at 1:25 p.m. ET on a Thursday... there's no place like Atlanta. -- Alexa Philippou

Entering this game, the Valkyries had trailed by 20 or more points at halftime only twice: Aug. 3, 2025 vs. Las Vegas (25 points) and July 21, 2026 vs. Las Vegas (20 points). -- ESPN Research

Let's see ... what's going well for Golden State? The Valkyries are 5-of-5 from the foul line. But that's about it for now. -- Michael Voepel

Didn't see the beginning of it, but the ref had to step in between Rhyne Howard and Tiffany Hayes, who looked like they had some words for each other. -- Alexa Philippou

The Dream have shot better than 40% from the field in just one game this WNBA Finals series: Game 3 here in Atlanta, in which they shot 49% and won 97-71. They are currently shooting 67% (14-of-21) with 5:52 left in the second quarter. -- Michael Voepel