Atlanta Dream 85, New York Liberty 83

Atlanta is heading back to the WNBA Finals, and it got there without Allisha Gray, who did not appear in the box score for a second straight game. For three quarters it looked like New York might finally solve the Dream. Atlanta led 25-18 after one quarter and 44-39 at the half, and by as many as 12 early in the third, but New York answered with a 10-0 run, won the third quarter 29-22, and took a 68-66 lead into the fourth. Sabrina Ionescu's three-pointer pushed the Liberty's lead to five, their largest of the night, but it was short lived. Atlanta went on a 9-0 run to take a four-point lead with 4:55 remaining. New York got within one possession multiple times but could not get over the hump, and Breanna Stewart's two-point attempt to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining was off target. DeWanna Bonner made two free throws, Stewart added a putback at the buzzer, and Atlanta completed the sweep. Final: 85-83, Atlanta wins the series 3-0 and reaches its first Finals since 2013.

Atlanta shot 40.6% to New York's 43.5% and still won the possession game, as it has all series. The Dream committed only eight turnovers and scored 12 points off New York's 11, to the Liberty's seven off Atlanta's, which made it 72-31 in points off turnovers across the three games. New York scored 24 second-chance points on 8-of-8 shooting and went 20-of-21 at the line, and still came up two points short.

Jordin Canada ran the show with 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting, a perfect 8-of-8 at the line, and 11 assists without a turnover, at 82.5% true shooting. Angel Reese added 22 points and nine rebounds, five of them offensive, and Bonner finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, 12 of them defensive. Rhyne Howard scored 21 on 7-of-21 shooting and Isobel Borlase added 10 on 5-of-6 off the bench, while Naz Hillmon went 0-of-7 but grabbed four rebounds.

New York's stars produced. Stewart scored 26 on 6-of-15 shooting but went a perfect 13-of-13 at the line, with six assists, two blocks, and 15 fouls drawn. Jonquel Jones had 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting with 14 rebounds, six of them offensive. Ionescu shot 4-of-12 for 12 points, making all four of her field goals from three on 11 attempts, and Leonie Fiebich went 2-of-7. New York shot 31.0% from three (9-of-29) and got 11 points from its bench.

ATL 85 · NYL 83

Golden State Valkyries 87, Las Vegas Aces 77 (OT)

Las Vegas had every opportunity and let this one get away. The Aces held a nine-point lead coming out of the half, which grew to 11 after two A'ja Wilson free throws, and then they shot bricks, missing 11 straight shots while the Valkyries ripped off a 17-0 run over the next five-plus minutes to take a six-point lead. Las Vegas answered with a 15-4 run over seven-plus minutes into the fourth quarter, and with about five minutes remaining Golden State was down five. The Valkyries tied it with 1:50 remaining, then took the lead with a minute left after an 8-0 run. Golden State clung to a two-point lead with 32 seconds remaining, and Jackie Young delivered to tie it at 71-71. The Valkyries opted to hold the ball, running down the clock and putting it in Gabby Williams's hands. Her attempt missed, and Las Vegas had a chance to win with 3.9 seconds left, but Chelsea Gray's shot went in and out. Overtime.

Golden State went on another run in overtime, this time 10-0 over four minutes, and Las Vegas could not buy a bucket, scoring no points in the extra period until the final minute. Final: 87-77 in overtime, Golden State wins the series 3-0 and reaches the WNBA Finals in only its second year in existence. That kind of effort does not win playoff games, and Las Vegas will have the entire offseason to replay those final five minutes.

Kayla Thornton led Golden State with 18 points and nine rebounds, four of them offensive, and Kiah Stokes was perfect, scoring 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting with 10 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals. Williams added 16 points and three steals, Tiffany Hayes scored 11 despite a 4-of-14 night, and Veronica Burton had eight points, six rebounds, and four assists. Golden State's defense forced 15 turnovers, with 12 steals to Las Vegas's three, and turned them into 17 points to the Aces' seven. The Valkyries' bench outscored Las Vegas's 27-13.

Wilson scored 21 points with 10 rebounds and 11 fouls drawn, but needed 19 shots to do it, finishing 6-of-19, and went 8-of-11 at the line. Young scored 18 on 6-of-16 shooting with five turnovers, Gray added 17 points and five assists but turned it over six times, and Kalani Brown had eight points and eight rebounds. Las Vegas shot 38.2% and turned the ball over 15 times, and its bench scored 13 points.

GSV 87 · LVA 77