Valkyries One Win From WNBA Crown After Game 5 Win

The Golden State Valkyries are one win away from their first WNBA championship after a 64-55 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 5 at Chase Center ^[1]. The second-year franchise, which sold out every home game for the second straight season, now holds a 3-2 series lead and will face the Dream in Game 6 on Thursday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

The game is set for a 12:30 p.m. ET tip-off—early enough to require California fans to tune in by 9:30 a.m. PT—after a scheduling conflict with an Atlanta Hawks game against the Cleveland Cavaliers ^[2]. The Hawks' game was moved to 8 p.m. ET to allow time for court changes, forcing the WNBA to adjust its timing.

Despite the unusual hour, Valkyries center Kiah Stokes said the team is focused on winning regardless of the time: "Doesn’t matter what time it is. At the end of the day, we just need 94 feet, two hoops and each other," she told reporters after Game 5 ^[2].

The Valkyries advanced to the Finals after defeating the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in the semifinals ^[1]. Their journey has been marked by sellouts, playoff success, and a rapid rise since their inaugural season.

Game 6 will be televised on USA Network and streamed on Peacock ^[2]. The league praised the collaboration between the NBA, Hawks, Dream, and broadcasters that made the late change possible.

The unusual timing has sparked discussion, with fans and analysts noting the rare morning championship game. The WNBA emphasized the success of previous games at State Farm Arena, citing strong attendance and atmosphere ^[2].

According to ^[1], there is a possibility the championship celebration could be moved to a practice court if Golden State wins Game 6, due to the NBA’s late-night game schedule; this has not been confirmed by other sources. The story was first reported by New York Post and NBC News.