Nakase and Valkyries are determined to avoid another slow start in WNBA Finals Game 7 against Dream

ATLANTA (AP) — There should be no problem with the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream approaching the first WNBA Finals Game 7 in league history with a sense of urgency.

Then again, that's what Golden State coach Natalie Nakase thought about Game 6. She was baffled that her team somehow left behind its defensive intensity at the start of Thursday's 80-69 loss to the Dream that forced Game 7 at “Ballhalla” in San Francisco on Saturday night.

While the Valkyries were missing their defensive edge that was so important in their 64-55 Game 5 win, the Dream seized the opportunity by making 73.3% of their shots in the first quarter and racing to a 32-15 lead. The 32 points are the most by either team in a quarter in the series.

Atlanta kept the lead in double figures most of the remainder of the game.

“Can’t let that happen right out of the gate,” Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said. “There needs to be a sense of urgency. It’s the WNBA Finals.”

Even after the Valkyries showed fight by attempting a second-half comeback, Nakase was still struggling to comprehend the lackadaisical start so she could make sure it's not repeated in Saturday night's decisive game. She said she planned to have conversations with her players about the issue on the flight back to California.

“I put that on me of like, what did I not say, what did I not get to my team of the sense of urgency that we knew they were going to play?” Nakase said of the Dream. “We knew they were going to play desperate. We knew they were going to play like their life depends on it. For us not to match that is disappointing and frustrating. So, yeah, I need to make sure my team is prepared.”

Added Nakase of her plan to seek answers: “For me, I need clarity. I need some information.”

The Dream and Valkyries each will be playing for their first WNBA title.

Atlanta's Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard had 21 in Thursday's win when Golden State's only lead was 2-0. Angel Reese added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Dream.

“Our job is not done,” Reese said. “We definitely could be happy about it for now but we have more work to do. I think we definitely have another level that we can get to, like (Gray) was saying. We shot a lot better this game, for sure, but I think we just continue to grow from this.”

The format for the WNBA Finals was a best-of-five series until the first best-of-seven series in 2025, when the Las Vegas Aces swept the Phoenix Mercury 4-0.

The Dream lost in the Finals in 2010, 2011 and 2013. The Valkyries reached this year's Finals in only their second season of existence.

Despite Thursday's Game 6 being scheduled for a much-criticized 12:30 p.m. EDT tipoff that created concerns about fans' obligations to work and school, Atlanta supporters delivered a sellout of 17,099 at State Farm Arena.

“Shout out to the crowd, being able to come here at 12:30 on a Thursday and so many things going on in the world from school to work, to everything else,” Reese said. “We’re just super thankful. We fed off their energy. They were loud from the beginning. So we’re definitely thankful for that.”

Reese knows another packed house will be supporting the Valkyries on Saturday night.

“I think that the crowd doesn’t really get to us much but I think, obviously, Game 7 is going to be a lot louder,” Reese said. “The energy is going to be electric in there. So just honestly staying poised, staying together, and I think we’ll be fine.”

Golden State's Tiffany Hayes was called for her fifth foul in a collision for a loose ball with 5:01 remaining. Hayes was left laying on the court following the collision. She slowly walked off after receiving attention from a trainer.

Nakase said she wanted to check in again with Hayes but added “she looked good to me. Yeah, she looked fine.”

Nakase and her players firmly denied the early start — 9:30 a.m. by California time — was a factor in the Valkyries' slow start.

“No. That had nothing to do with it,” Nakase said. “We played at 1 o’clock last week. No.”

Added Gabby Williams: “They played at the same time as us, right? So it’s not an excuse. We have to be better.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada walks of the court after the Dream won Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase speaks with Veronica Burton during the first half of Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray celebrates after shooting a three-pointer during the first half of Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese (5) goes up to shoot against Golden State Valkyries' Kiah Stokes during the second half of Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard, top, and Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes battle for the ball during the second half of Game 6 of the WNBA basketball finals on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

MONTREAL (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he expects to conclude negotiations with the European Union in June on an unprecedented partnership that would make Canada the bloc’s first “associate member,” even though the designation was left out of a joint declaration launching a new economic and security alliance.

Carney said he would attend a meeting of European leaders in June to conclude negotiations on the proposed relationship, which would stop short of full EU membership.

“In parallel, we are working towards the deepest possible partnership, short of accession — with Canada becoming the European Union’s first Associate Member,” Carney said.

The joint declaration issued at the end of a two-day summit in Montreal made no mention of associate membership. Instead, the leaders agreed to define an “ever-closer association” by their next summit in 2027.

European Council President António Costa said the alliance would be the closest relationship the EU has ever established with a country outside the bloc, expanding cooperation on trade, research and security as U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war strains relations with traditional allies.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said shared values mattered more than geography in determining which countries should work together.

“It is not so important where the countries are on the map,” von der Leyen said. “What is important are the values that a country defends and where countries stand in international relations.”

Carney said the proposed alliance would strengthen the sovereignty of Canada and Europe and help them weather economic shocks.

“And it means, at its base, sovereignty, greater resilience, an ability to withstand shocks together,” he said.

Von der Leyen has been pushing for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member,” despite resistance from some European governments to the designation. Carney has also used the term, although he has emphasized that the partnership’s benefits matter more than its name.

“We want Canada as close a partner as possible to the European Union,” von der Leyen said. “We know that Canada cannot be a full-fledged member of the European Union, but to have a relationship as close as possible, this is our goal.”

Carney said the proposed alliance would make life more affordable, give consumers more choices and create opportunities for businesses, young people and researchers.

Von der Leyen said Canada and the EU were also creating a common space with other trusted partners to confront challenges involving critical minerals, resilient supply chains, artificial intelligence and space.

The leaders are expected to announce a digital trade agreement Friday, along with initiatives to expand scientific research partnerships and university student exchanges. Von der Leyen has also said the two sides would finalize an agreement giving Canadian companies and researchers access to Europe’s network of supercomputers to develop artificial intelligence.

Trump has suggested Canada’s proposed EU arrangement could be a “hostile act” and threatened tariffs on Europe if he considered it unfriendly. The United States accounted for 71.7% of Canada’s merchandise exports in 2025, underscoring the challenge Carney faces as he seeks to double exports to other countries over the next decade.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, centre, arrives at the Canada-EU Summit with President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, left, and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Montreal, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, right and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas pose after signing the Canada-EU Host Country Agreement in Montreal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Signage for the Canada-EU summit, in Montreal, is seen on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, right and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas sign the Canada-EU Host Country Agreement in Montreal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney looks on during a roundtable meeting with business leaders during the Canada-EU Summit, in Montreal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, right, gives remarks alongside Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney at a roundtable with business leaders during the Canada-EU Summit in Montreal, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP)