EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — United States defender Sergiño Dest swept in the equalizer as PSV Eindhoven drew 1-1 with Shakhtar Donetsk in their opening Champions League game on Thursday.
The right back timed his run well to meet a low pass from the left from Armando Obispo and score from just inside the penalty area early into the second half; having been involved in Shakhtar's goal on the stroke of halftime.
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Shakhtar's Gleiker Mendoza, center, hugs his coach Arda Turan after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest, right, scores his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Venezuela midfielder Gleiker Mendoza curled the ball into the bottom right corner to grab his first goal for his new club and celebrated with the team bench. But PSV's players were angry that the goal was given, claiming Dest had been fouled.
A thudding challenge near the halfway line left the former Barcelona player briefly writhing on the ground and clutching his leg. Shakhtar then launched a counterattack leading to the goal, which was awarded following a quick video review.
“Even though it was a draw against a good team, we felt there was more possible in this match" Dest said. "So in that respect it feels bitter.”
The technically adroit Dest played for the U.S. team at the World Cup and was deployed as a right winger by coach Mauricio Pochettino in the 4-1 loss to Belgium in the last 16.
PSV's fans were not happy with the final result Thursday and there were some whistles at the end.
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Shakhtar's Gleiker Mendoza, center, hugs his coach Arda Turan after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest, right, scores his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
PSV's Sergino Dest celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between PSV and Shakhtar in Eindhoven, Netherlands, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kiah Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots as the Golden State Valkyries moved within one win of a championship in their second season, beating the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on Monday night.
Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists — a big difference from her two standout performances in the first two games of the series at Chase Center. Reese shook her head when whistled for the second of her three offensive fouls with 7:43 to play.
Fans screamed and clapped thunder sticks following the final buzzer as Stokes spoke from the floor to chants of “MVP!”
“We appreciate you,” a smiling Stokes said. “We got one more.”
On a night leading scorer Gabby Williams struggled to find her shooting touch, Golden State found that “strength in numbers” mantra coach Natalie Nakase has praised all season long and everybody made an impact. Veronica Burton had 13 points and eight rebounds.
On Saturday, Nakase had changed up her lineup for a 67-62 Game 4 win by inserting Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the starting five. She stayed with those two Monday night, and it worked again. Hayes, who played 10 seasons for Atlanta and came out of retirement two years ago, had 12 points — and Nakase has said she wants to win it all for the veteran guard.
Williams began 2 for 11 and missed all four of her three 3-point tries, but she converted a three-point play with 9:08 remaining put the Valkyries ahead 49-42 and finished with nine points on 3-for-14 shooting and six rebounds.
Atlanta will now try to stave off elimination at home Thursday in Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 back here at Chase Center on Saturday. The Dream hurt themselves with 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for Golden State.
Stokes hit a key 3-pointer with 2:46 to go in the third quarter and another with 7:21 left in the game, which ignited chants of “Ki-ah! Ki-ah!” from the crazed, rally-towel waving “Ballhalla” home crowd at Chase Center.
Stokes has recorded three or more blocks in six straight games, tying her with Lisa Leslie in 2003 for the longest such streak in a single WNBA postseason.
The Valkyries used a dominant second half after they led 25-22 at the break, the lowest scoring first half combined score in WNBA Finals history.
Rhyne Howard’s three-point play with 4:59 left in the third pulled Atlanta within 34-31, but after that it was Stokes, Burton and the Valkyries coming up with all the crucial plays on both ends.
Golden State owner Joe Lacob promised a championship within five years in a bold declaration when the expansion franchise was granted to the Bay Area three years ago, yet this season has exceeded even what he could have envisioned.
Neither team could find a flow from 3-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot 5 for 29 from deep — 3 of 16 by Golden State and 2 for 13 by Atlanta.
Earlier Monday, the league announced Game 6 would be played at 17,000-seat State Farm Arena in Atlanta starting at 12:30 p.m. EDT on Thursday — a time when many fans on both coasts will be working.
“I’d like to see it be a national holiday for all WNBA championship games so whatever somebody can do,” Dream coach Karl Smesko said. “I hope everybody gets to see it somehow and I know that for some people it’s not realistic, they have jobs and won’t be able to make it. So I’m disappointed for that but I’m really hopeful that as many people can see the game as possible.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes, middle, holds onto the ball against Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) and forward Naz Hillmon during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reaches for the ball next to Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) drives to the basket against Atlanta Dream guard DeWanna Bonner (24) during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates with guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) and guard Allisha Gray, right, during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) shoots against Atlanta Dream guard Isobel Borlase (20) during the first half of Game 5 of the WNBA basketball finals, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) hugs Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles (6) after Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) attempts to shoot against Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes (41) in the second half during Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) high fives fans after Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Streamers fall from the rafters following the Golden State Valkyries victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (Dan Hernandez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
