More critiques of reffing. Angel Reese said that after the Dream went up 2-1, the reffing changed in Golden State’s favor @Winsidr

Karl Smesko criticizes the reffing in Game 5. Says the contact allowed against Angel Reese is “ridiculous” and that multiple double dribbles and travels are being missed against the Valkyries @Winsidr

“This is the WNBA Finals. Leave it all out there.” Veronica Burton on playing 37 minutes tonight @Winsidr

Burton: “You wanna run through a brick wall when you love the people around you” @Winsidr

Kiah Stokes: “We don’t wanna give Atlanta any life…As much as we love Ballhalla, we don’t wanna come back here.” @Winsidr

“Tip [Hayes] cussed me out when she saw me pass up one, so I didn’t wanna make her mad again.” Kiah Stokes went 3-4 from the 3 tonight. Finished with 13 points. @Winsidr

“I still believe we can win this.” Angel Reese on the up and down of the series and the mindset heading into Game 6 @Winsidr

Kiah Stokes receiving “MVP” chants after Game 5 @Winsidr

Per the @WNBA: Veronica Burton’s four blocks tie Diana Taurasi (2009) as the most blocks by a guard in a WNBA Finals game. Burton also set her postseason career high in blocks. @Winsidr

The Golden State Valkyries are officially one game away from winning a WNBA championship in the franchise's second ever season. They win Game 3 64-55 and take a 3-2 series lead. 4 Valkyries (Veronica Burton, Kiah Stokes, Tiffany Hayes, and Cecilia Zandalasini) scored over 12 points tonight, with Gabby Williams following with 8. Another game with a shortened lineup from Nakase. Rhyne Howard scored 20 points (7-15) and Allisha Gray 10, but ATL's efforts weren't enough to get the job done. @Winsidr

Per the @WNBA: Kiah Stokes now has six straight games with 3+ blocks - tied with Lisa Leslie (2003) for the longest streak in a single postseason in WNBA playoff history. @Winsidr

The Golden State Valkyries head into half time leading 25-22. Low scoring game as you can see: GSV shooting 30%, ATL 24%. Valkyries have been stifling on the defensive end with 8 stocks and 6 forced turnovers. Burton leads all scorers with 9 points after an aggressive first quarter of paint drives and kick outs. Ceci Zandalasini and Kiah Stokes follow with 5 and 4, and the latter has 5 rebounds. Rhyne Howard has 6 pts for ATL, and Angel Reese and Allisha Gray have 5 each. @Winsidr

ATL leads GSV 14-13 after the first quarter. Both teams are shooting under 30% from the floor, but the Valkyries definitely came out strong on the defensive end with 3 blocks and a steal. Rebound battle tied 13-13. Reese has 5 points (2-3), while Stokes and Burton each have 4. @Winsidr

Veronica Burton on Tip Hayes and Kaila Charles joining the starting lineup: "Yeah, I think that's the cool thing, is they honestly didn't have to change anything. That's what's refreshing about our team, is that we don't look too much into, you know, coming off the bench or starting...From the outside, it's viewed as maybe a bigger deal. But they just are themselves, they always are, whether they're on the floor [for] the first tip off or not, they come in to be themselves. So I think that's what I noticed from them, and...big credit to also Ceci[lia Zandalasini] and [Kayla Thornton] coming in and contributing and being themselves. 
So I think...the beauty of our team is that you still feel engaged, you still feel valuable." @Winsidr

A small part of Coach Nakase’s response about the Valkyries not having any all-WNBA selections: “We have 14 players that really don't feed into attention, and it keeps us lazer focused.” @Winsidr

Nakase on the Game 6 rescheduling fiasco: “Right now…I'm focused on game five, but the beauty of Ballhalla is sacrifice. They're gonna…open that app. They're gonna open their phone. They're gonna watch. I have no doubt that…everybody's gonna watch. And that's really important, is that, that's what we do on Golden State. We sacrifice for the betterment of our team. And so our fans, I ain't worried about them…We play for them because they show up. They don't ever miss a beat.“ @Winsidr

“The goal…is to steal one on the road.” Kiah Stokes on how she grounded the Valkyries after Game 3. Said the goal when on the road is always to steal one, so nothing was won or lost in Game 3. @Winsidr

“I just hang my hat on defense.” Kiah Stokes was excited to hear that she broke a WNBA Finals record in blocks. Gabby Williams dapped her up right before the video started.

“It got me going… I think stepping up in that role made me step up individually.” Gabby Williams on her viral huddle moment after Game 3 and how it carried over to today’s game. @Winsidr