Australian guard Izzy Borlase is a step closer to a WNBA championship in her rookie season after helping Atlanta Dream to a dominant 97-71 win over Golden State.
Angel Reese starred again at State Farm Arena on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), posting 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Dream took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven decider.
It made Reese the first player in league history to have a double-double in each of her first three finals games.
Rhyne Howard (16 points) and Naz Hillmon (15) also shone, while Borlase had her most productive outing of the series so far with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in more than 26 minutes on court.
Borlase was one of only two substitutes used off the bench by Dream coach Karl Smesko before he rested his big guns in the final two minutes.
The 22-year-old went 5-of-10 from the field and hit a wide-open three late in the second quarter as Atlanta took a 46-40 lead to the half-time break.
Hillmon had three triples to that point and Reese posted 15 points and seven rebounds in the first half.
Atlanta weathered a brief challenge and took control in the third quarter, with Borlase in the thick of the action.
The Australian Opals star stepped inside Kaitlyn Chen for a simple bucket off the glass to put the Dream up 64-55 late in the period, forcing a Golden State timeout.
On the resumption, Borlase produced a huge block on Chen to bring the home fans to their feet.
The Valkyries rode the three-ball and were 12-of-30 from long range, with Gabby Williams (15 points) leading their scoring.
Tiffany Hayes (14), Cecilia Zandalasini (13) and Janelle Salaun (13) were also in double figures.
It was Atlanta's first-ever finals win on their home court, after they were swept in their previous three trips to the title decider.
They lost game one to the Valkyries before pinching game two on the road.
“We’re just coming back and giving our fans a show,” Howard told USA Network.
“We filled out this arena, so we had to protect it.
“We went and stole one (on the road) but we couldn’t let them come in and do the same thing.”
Atlanta will again enjoy home-court advantage on Saturday in game four, with both teams chasing their first WNBA title.
