Draymond Green’s warning landed with painful timing. Before Golden State’s chance to close out the Finals in Atlanta, the Warriors veteran had told the Valkyries that a fourth win would be “the hardest game they’ve ever played in their lives.”¹

On Thursday, the Dream made sure it was. An early weekday Game 6 — a scheduling squeeze caused by a pre-booked Atlanta Hawks date at State Farm Arena — tipped at 12:30 p.m. local time, breakfast time in the Bay Area. Atlanta immediately seized the moment, hitting 75% of its first-quarter 3-pointers, building a 19-point hole and eventually winning 80-69 to level the series at 3-3.¹

The Valkyries rejected the body-clock explanation. “They played at the same time as us, right?” forward Gabby Williams said.¹ But coach Natalie Nakase was less forgiving of the competitive gap, saying the Dream had played “like their life depends on it” and that Golden State had failed to match that edge.¹

There was, however, a sliver of defiance amid the disappointment. Guard Veronica Burton called the opening period terrible but stressed that the team did not unravel: “We didn’t quit this one.”¹ Golden State won several of the game’s peripheral battles, including rebounds, free throws and steals, but its recovery could not erase Atlanta’s opening barrage.¹

The Finals now shift Saturday to San Francisco, where the teams will meet at Chase Center at 5 p.m. Pacific on USA Network, CNBC and Peacock. The winner will claim its first WNBA title.² For the Valkyries, home court offers one more chance to turn a nightmare start into a championship finish.