The Atlanta Dream won its first game in a WNBA Finals, and it took home-court advantage from Golden State with a 79-65 victory on Monday at Chase Center.

Atlanta improved to 1-10 in the Finals behind Angel Reese’s 30 points and 16 rebounds, making her the youngest player (24 years, 166 days) in league history to post a double-double in the championship.

“I let my team down last game, not really contributing as much as I could in the second half,” Reese said. “I wanted to make sure that I came out tonight and left my mark and do what I could to win, and I think I did that tonight.”

Atlanta Head Coach Karl Smesko said he made eye-contract with Reese going into the locker room before the game and told her, “I like this look. She was fantastic on both ends of the floor; just a superior performance.”

The Dream’s defense was also a star. It produced 19 fast-break points while holding the Valkyries to 34.4% shooting. Rhyne Howard set a Finals record with six steals that helped Atlanta produce 24 points off turnovers. Atlanta’s defense worked hard on getting into the passing lanes, which forced the Valkyries to make different decisions than it did in Game 1.

Game 3 will be at a sold-out State Farm Arena on Wednesday. Atlanta will have a chance to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Dream built a 39-37 halftime lead despite Howard picking up four fouls, and Reese playing with three. Reese finished with 15 points; Howard finished with three.

“We feed off her energy,” Jordin Canada said of Reese. “She was talking to us the whole game, keeping us confident.”

Canada finished with 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. She said she felt could have played better.

Atlanta increased its lead to 60-46 through the third quarter despite hitting just 4-of16 shots. Most of its points came from going 12-for-12 from the free-throw line. The Dream played smart defense in the period, forcing Golden State to miss 11-of-15 and didn’t commit a foul that sent any players to the free-throw line. Neither Howard nor Reese, who reached 24 points and 11 rebounds, picked up another foul.

“Her rebound, her fight, were at a high level tonight,” Golden State Head Coach Natalie Nakase said of Reese.

Atlanta didn’t want to let up in the fourth, sparked by the recent memories of Game 1 when it took a five-point lead into the deciding quarter but was held to just eight points.

Two free throws by Canada and Bonner pushed the Dream’s lead to 64-46 in the opening minute of the fourth.

The Dream’s lead never fell to less than 14 points in the fourth quarter.

“It’s just a start,” Reese said. “We have the city behind us. It’s just the first toward who Atlanta is and who Atlanta is going to be the next couple of years.”