The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) has driven its championship format into uncharted territory during only the second year of its revamped schedule. In what is being touted as a milestone for the league, the 2025 Finals will feature a historic first-ever Game 7, with a brand-new franchise poised to etch its name on the championship trophy.

The fourth-seeded Atlanta Dream ensured the series would go the absolute distance following a commanding 80-69 victory over the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries at a packed State Farm Arena. The winner-take-all finale is scheduled for Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco, where both squads will battle not just for the title, but to withstand the immense physical and mental toll of a grueling postseason run.

The matchup itself unfolded under questionable scheduling circumstances imposed by the European-style calendar experiments of the American sports league. The game was abruptly pushed to an awkward 12:30 p.m. matinee slot to accommodate an evening fixture for the NBA's Atlanta Hawks at the same venue. Despite the logistical friction and midday disruptions for local fans, the arena drew a fervent crowd that fueled the Dream's wire-to-wire triumph.

On the court, veteran guard Allisha Gray battled through a lingering hand injury to rack up 23 points, including five 3-pointers, while Rhyne Howard contributed 21 points. Angel Reese added a dominant 15 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists to anchor Atlanta's relentless offensive display. For the struggling Valkyries, Gabby Williams led with 26 points, but a disastrous opening quarter and dismal 25.9 percent shooting from beyond the arc left head coach Natalie Nakase searching for answers ahead of the final flight.

Source: www.aljazeera.com