WNBA Finals Game 3 Best Bets: Dream vs. Valkyries Predictions

The Atlanta Dream rolled to a decisive 79-65 road victory against the Golden State Valkyries on Monday to tie the WNBA Finals at one game apiece.

As the series shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 Wednesday night, the Dream again will try to harness a dominant defense that’s aiming to escape the clutches of the Valkyries’ own harassing ‘D.’

Read these WNBA best bets before someone from either team snatches your cellphone or computer away (as if either would be hurtling through midair, smiling emoji).

Valkyries vs. Dream Game 3 Pick

After stopping the franchise’s 10-game finals losing streak, the Dream return home to attempt their first such win in Atlanta.

“Throughout the entire year, we just continue to stick together and know who we are,” Dream forward Angel Reese said. “We have the city behind us. We have the team. We have the coaches and everybody rallying behind us. It feels really good.”

The vibes should be even better once Atlanta holds serve at home tonight. Will Reese have to replicate her 30-point, 16-rebound showing from Game 2 to get there? Maybe not. Either way, the Dream are playing the kind of defense that could help anyone running the floor to be a hero.

Rhyne Howard collected a finals single-game record six steals Monday night while DeWanna Bonner added four. Atlanta scored 24 points off 19 Golden Sate turnovers after registering just eight points off Valkyries miscues in the series opener.

Atlanta stole home court advantage with a Game 2 win and should have enough oomph – on the floor and surrounding it – to prevail here.

Dream -3.5 (-110 )

Reese joined elite company with her breakout performance in Game 2.

Before Monday, only Jonquel Jones (Connecticut, 2019) and Breanna Stewart (Seattle, 2020) had collected at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a finals game.

Reese’s tenacity helped the Dream to a plus-four edge under the boards. She added a steal, giving her at least one in six of Atlanta’s seven postseason games.

“She was definitely way more aggressive,” Golden State center Kiah Stokes said. “She had a great game.”

Unfazed by the Valkyries’ legion of “Ballhalla” backers, Reese should be the Dream’s guardian Angel again before what should be a boisterous crowd at State Farm Arena. It’s the biggest game of her career to date and she’s shown lately that she isn’t shy for big occasions.

Angel Reese double-double (-192)

Valkyries leading scorer Gabby Williams came back to Earth on Monday.

She certainly wasn’t alone.

Still, while Golden State slumped to 34.4 percent shooting, that effort marked the best shooting percentage between the teams to begin the series.

Williams was just 3-for-15 from the floor en route to tying Tiffany Hayes for the team high with 14 points, but as teammate Veronica Burton observed, “We missed shots that we make all the time.”

That isn’t liable to happen twice in three days, Atlanta’s defense notwithstanding.

With Williams averaging 22 points on 41 percent shooting in eight playoff games, she resiliently keeps her club afloat with more of the same.

Gabby Williams 20+ points (+104 with DraftKings)