Atlanta comes short in a thrilling game with Golden State

Cecilia Zandalasini scored 18 points and sank a clutch baseline jumper with 3.9 seconds remaining, propelling the Golden State Valkyries to a dramatic 77-75 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night.

Zandalasini, positioned at the top of the key, drove hard to her right, squared up at the baseline, and released a perfectly arcing shot over the outstretched arm of defender Alyssa Gray. Brittney Griner's last-second attempt from 18 feet for Atlanta barely grazed the rim as time expired.

Tiffany Hayes contributed 15 points, reserve Caria Leite added 12, and Veronica Burton chipped in 10 for Golden State (12-13). Zandalasini led a dominant Valkyries bench effort, outscoring Atlanta's reserves 39-16.

Jordin Canada paced the Dream (15-11) with 21 points and eight assists, while Naz Hillmon added 14 points and eight rebounds, and Gray scored 12.

This was Atlanta's first home game since a 90-81 victory over the Valkyries, which featured a 15-2 fourth-quarter run. A similar rally nearly unfolded as the Dream erased a 69-56 deficit entering the final quarter.

Atlanta took a 75-73 lead on Canada's three-point play with 3:08 left. Zandalasini quickly countered for Golden State, and the score remained unchanged for over 2½ minutes until her decisive basket sealed the win.The Dream had recently snapped league-leading Minnesota's 14-game home winning streak on Sunday, while the expansion Valkyries endured their worst loss of the season, 85-64, at Connecticut the same day.

The game was tied at 39 at halftime, and the Valkyries closed the third quarter with a commanding 21-6 run.