Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Izzy Borlase’s dream of a WNBA championship ring with Atlanta remains alive and kicking after the Australian rookie helped the Dream drag the finals series into a winner-takes-all decider against the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco.
Saturday’s (Sunday AEDT) clash at Chase Center should be a Halloween spine-tingler with the 22-year-old Borlase dreaming of joining 11 previous Australian winners in women’s basketball’s finals showpiece.
Opals ace Borlase played her part in a fired-up Atlanta outfit, who brushed aside the irritation and indignity of having to play Thursday’s pivotal game six at lunchtime at their home State Farm Arena by powering their way to an emphatic series-levelling 80-69 victory in front of a noisy near sell-out crowd.
The Melbourne-born, Adelaide-raised rising star played very much a support role in her 12 minutes of court action as Atlanta’s powerful starting line-up took control in an opening blitz and never looked back after holding a 17–point advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The Dream were inspired by Allisha Gray (23 points), Rhyne Howard (21) and another double-double from their biggest star Angel Reese, who had 14 rebounds and six assists to go with her 15 points.
But Borlase did her bit too, with four points — one field goal from two attempts and both her free-throw efforts — as well as some doughty defensive work, including one block.
She blotted her copybook by giving the ball away carelessly just before halftime for a turnover but by that time, the Valkyries had already slipped to 20 points behind at 46-26.
Atlanta, shooting hot, only ever looked remotely rattled in the final quarter as the visitors, seeking to seal the win that would have brought them the title for the first time in just their second season, got to within eight points going into the final minute.
But there was no cause for alarm as Gray sank a three-pointer under pressure to get the home crowd roaring.
The Valkyries’ Queensland player Miela Sowah is on a development contract and not eligible to feature in the playoffs, but she’s been a constant presence on the sidelines, and doubtless will be again on Sunday (AEDT) when the decider tips off at 11am.
But Golden State could afford to feel aggrieved with the 12.30pm EDT tip-off time on Thursday, which was, effectively, a 9:30am start by their normal California time.
The decision to stage Thursday’s match on a weekday lunchtime, effectively to avoid a stadium scheduling conflict with an NBA game, has enraged many fans and players, with widespread complaints that it was unfair and an embarrassment for women’s professional sports.
