Valkyries and Dream set for first-ever WNBA Finals Game 7 after Atlanta ties series

San Francisco (AP) — Tiffany Hayes is eagerly anticipating the festive home crowd at Chase Center for a historic Game 7 in the WNBA Finals, occurring on Halloween night. "Halloween is Halloween, Ballhalla's Ballhalla," Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes said before tipoff. "We expect everybody to come out, they're probably going to have their costumes on, which is going to be different, I've never experienced that before, so it's going to be cool."

After three cross-country journeys and a thrilling best-of-seven series, the WNBA crown will be decided in the league's first-ever Game 7. Golden State anticipated the raucous "Ballhalla" crowd to play a significant role in the winner-take-all Game 7, after Angel Reese and Atlanta Dream evened the series at 3-3 with an 80-69 victory on Thursday.

The Valkyries, in their second season, aim to capture their first championship. Center Kiah Stokes expressed the intensity of the Finals, stating, "I feel like it's been intense for us. So, what other way than to end the season just to have a Game 7, winner-take-all."

The Valkyries will have the support of Golden State Warriors, including star Stephen Curry, who offered encouragement to the Valkyries, saying, "Win, baby, win!" following his postgame interview after Friday night's 112-95 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. Valkyries guard Brandin Podziemski echoed the sentiment, urging, "You came this far, you gotta get it done."