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Valkyries Sweep Dream 88-83; Burton 21, Williams All-Star

7/5/2026

43 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Valkyries Sweep Dream

Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta Dream 88-83 on July 4, 2026, completing a sweep.
Veronica Burton scored 21 points and handed out five assists.
Gabby Williams added 19 points, four threes and earned her first All-Star starter nod.
The team hit 13 of 34 threes (38.2%) and forced 17 turnovers with 15 steals.
Atlanta’s Angel Reese posted 17 points and 13 rebounds while Allisha Gray led with 22 points.

Summary

Reese Criticizes

Angel Reese, leader with 11.7 rebounds per game and 1,000 boards in 79 games, criticized the league for not naming any Dream players as All-Star starters.
PrizePicks listed the Dream as 3.5-point favorites at 1.81×, the Valkyries at 2.32×, and set the over/under at 163.5 for a 1.92× return.
The Dream entered the July 4 game without Brionna Jones and Aaliyah Nye, out with knee injuries, while Golden State reported none.

History

Historical Context

The WNBA, founded by the NBA in 1996 and launching with eight teams in the 1997 season, survived early competition from the ABL and expanded to 15 franchises by 2026. After the Houston Comets folded in 2008, the league added the Golden State Valkyries in 2025, whose 2026 sweep of Atlanta reflects the league’s steady growth and expanding media deals.

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Valkyries Sweep Dream

Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta Dream 88-83 on July 4, 2026, completing a sweep.
Veronica Burton scored 21 points and handed out five assists.
Gabby Williams added 19 points, four threes and earned her first All-Star starter nod.
The team hit 13 of 34 threes (38.2%) and forced 17 turnovers with 15 steals.
Atlanta’s Angel Reese posted 17 points and 13 rebounds while Allisha Gray led with 22 points.

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