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Golden State (11-13) at Atlanta (15-10)
- When: Jul 29 2025, 5:30 PM
- Where: Gateway Center Arena, College Park, GA, USA
- TV: Peachtree TV
WNBA Preview and Prediction: Golden State Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream
Spread: Atlanta -7.5 | Total: 156.0
Atlanta Dream Breakdown
The Atlanta Dream (15-10) return home after a grueling six-game road stretch that featured some of their biggest wins of the season. After stumbling early on the trip, Atlanta caught fire, toppling Phoenix 90-79 and then pulling off a statement 90-86 victory over the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Head coach Karl Smesko emphasized the importance of winning tough games on the road, especially with the playoffs looming. “There hasn’t been a better team than Minnesota this year, so to play that well on their court is something we’ll remember,” Smesko noted.
Allisha Gray continues to lead Atlanta’s offense, averaging 18.7 points per game. However, the Dream will again be without Rhyne Howard (16.5 ppg), who remains sidelined with a knee injury. Even with the absence of their No. 2 scorer, the Dream have shown resilience, leaning on a balanced attack and tough defense.
Prediction for Atlanta:
Expect Atlanta to use its home-court advantage and defensive edge to control the pace and capitalize on Golden State’s turnover issues.
Golden State Valkyries Breakdown
The Golden State Valkyries (11-13) are coming off a humbling 95-64 loss to the Connecticut Sun, the worst defeat in the franchise’s young history. The expansion team has struggled in July, dropping six of their last eight games while continuing to battle inconsistency.
Head coach Natalie Nakase didn’t mince words after their last loss: “We just weren’t connected. Our energy and focus weren’t there.”
To make matters worse, Golden State lost leading scorer and rebounder Kayla Thornton (14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds) for the season due to knee surgery. This leaves a major scoring gap, with veteran guard Tiffany Hayes (12.5 ppg) now tasked with carrying the offensive load. Hayes went 0-for-8 from the field in their last game, and she’ll need to bounce back for the Valkyries to stay competitive.
Prediction for Golden State:
Without Thornton and with offensive struggles mounting, Golden State faces an uphill battle to keep this one close.
WNBA Game Prediction
Atlanta’s homecoming energy and superior depth make them the clear favorite. Expect the Dream to dictate the tempo, pull away late, and cover the spread in a 82-72 victory.
Score Prediction: Atlanta 82, Golden State 72
Best Bet: Atlanta -7.5
Total: Under 156.0
- WNBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
