Gray's late 3 lifts Dream past Valkyries, forcing first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history

Allisha Gray drilled a quick 3-pointer from the right corner with just under a minute remaining, then turned to the State Farm Arena crowd and let out a roar. The shot put the finishing touch on the Atlanta Dream's 80-69 victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday night, forcing the first Game 7 in league history.

Gray has acknowledged she is not fully healthy in the Finals after injuring several fingers on her left hand in Game 1 of the semifinals, an issue that required a "minor procedure" and affected her shot. Over the first five games of the series, she looked for ways to help outside of high-volume scoring. "I didn't want to go home," Gray told ESPN. "We have a championship to win."

In Game 6, she finally delivered a signature shooting night. Gray finished with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range. It was the second-highest scoring playoff game of her career, and she became the second player in league history to make at least five 3-pointers while facing elimination in the Finals.

Her impact extended to the other end of the floor, where she recorded two steals and three blocks and held the Valkyries to 2-of-17 shooting as the primary defender. "I'm just giving myself grace," Gray said. "Shots were falling today, so I will take that." She said her teammates challenged her and she believes she stepped up, adding of Game 7: "I can't take my foot off the gas. I feel I can take it up to another level."

Dream coach Karl Smesko said he spoke with Gray on Wednesday about what he needed from his leading scorer. "The execution from film and practice to the floor was flawless on her part," Smesko said, noting that the first thing mentioned in the locker room was how proud the team was of her.

Angel Reese also helped shape Gray's mindset, talking with her on the flight back to Atlanta after Game 5. "She might be hurting, but you can't tell," Reese said, as Gray sat beside her with an ice bag on her left hand. Reese said she told Gray: "This is going to be a mental game. You can't let anyone check you out. You know exactly who you are."

Confidence was a theme in the days leading into the elimination game. The Dream held a players-only meeting about returning to the identity behind their two earlier wins in the series, one that embraced trash talking. It was back on display Thursday: Reese turned toward the Valkyries bench after knocking down her first 3-pointer, Rhyne Howard flexed after nearly every 3 she hit, and players repeatedly waved their arms to hype up the home crowd.

The Dream set the tone immediately, outscoring Golden State 32-15 in the first quarter while hitting six 3-pointers. That made them the second team in WNBA Finals history to make at least six 3s and shoot at least 75% from beyond the arc in a Finals quarter, and it was the first 30-point first quarter allowed in Valkyries franchise history. By halftime Atlanta led by 25 points, the largest lead by a team facing elimination in Finals history, and its 13 made 3-pointers tied the Finals record for a team facing elimination.

Reese finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Howard scored 21 points and hit four 3-pointers. "When we punch first, we have won every single game," Reese said. "We have to make sure we continue that going forward."

Game 7, the first in WNBA history, is set for Saturday at Ballhalla in San Francisco, tipping off at 8 p.m. ET. "Our job is not done," Reese said. "We definitely could be happy about it, but we have more work to do. We have another level that we can get to."