The WNBA Finals are going the distance for the first time ever. The Atlanta Dream beat the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday night to tie the series 3-3 and force the first Game 7 in league Finals history.

Allisha Gray led the way with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting. She made 5 of her 7 3-point tries and added two steals plus three blocks.

Gray did just as much damage on defense. The Valkyries went 2-of-17 when she was the primary defender. She has been playing through injured fingers on her left hand.

A blowout start

Atlanta was facing elimination but played like the team in control. The Dream led 32-15 after the first quarter. By halftime the lead was 25 points, the biggest ever by a team facing elimination in the Finals.

The Dream made 13 3-pointers on the night. Rhyne Howard scored 21 points. Angel Reese had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

Golden State tried to rally in the second half but never got close enough to make Atlanta sweat.

One game for the title

Game 7 is Saturday in San Francisco at 7 p.m. Central. The Valkyries will have the home crowd behind them for one last game.

For coach Karl Smesko and the Dream, it is a chance to finish one of the great comebacks in Finals history. Atlanta has now won two straight games to stay alive.