Atlanta Dream denied the Golden State Valkyries their first WNBA Finals victory after an 80-69 win forced the series into a seventh and deciding game on Sunday.

The Valkyries, who led 3-2 heading into the game in Atlanta, got off to a slow start, trailing 32-15 at the end of the first quarter.

That proved pivotal as the hosts maintained a healthy buffer throughout the game, leading 46-26 at half-time.

Despite not being at her best, Golden State Valkyries star Gabby Williams was the game’s top scorer with 26 points, while Angel Reese led the rebounding charts with 14.

Kiah Stokes kept Reese, who is in her first season with the Dream after being traded from the Chicago Sky, quiet in Game Five, but was unable to replicate that performance.

The 24-year-old delivered another standout performance after her Game Two display made her the youngest player, and only the third overall, to record at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals series.

It was a superb performance from Karl Smesko’s side, who had no room for error as they kept what has been a thrilling series alive.

Game Six of the series was originally scheduled for 20:00 local time at Gateway Center Arena, which has a capacity of 3,500, but was moved to State Farm Arena and brought forward to 12:30 local time amid concerns over a scheduling clash with the Atlanta Hawks.

“Our concerns did not receive the attention nor the urgency that they deserved. We earned our place in the Finals, and our city deserves the opportunity to show up for its team,” the Dream said in an open letter.

State Farm Arena, which has a capacity of 16,888, was sold out for the game.

Having suffered back-to-back defeats, the hosts will rue the missed opportunity to clinch the title in front of a large home crowd.

However, they will head into Sunday’s deciding game at Chase Center in San Francisco (00:00 BST) full of confidence.