The Atlanta Dream are preparing for their biggest game of the season on Saturday and will be doing so in front of a hostile Golden State crowd, adding increased pressure to several key players.

The WNBA Finals series between the Dream and Valkyries has been back and forth, with each team winning two at home and one on the road. But tonight, in the league’s first-ever Game 7, anything can happen, and it could make home-court advantage obsolete.

Angel Reese has been the Dream’s best player throughout the series, averaging 15.8 points per game through six starts. Now, Atlanta needs similar contributions from its other key players, particularly Jordin Canada.

The veteran guard was recently identified by WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes as the player who needs to step up the most in Game 7. Swoopes stressed that Canada must rediscover the scoring confidence she displayed during the semifinals, explaining how her ability to push the pace creates better opportunities for Reese, Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard.

“Sometimes players have a hard time really understanding when to push the gas or push the go button and pulling it back or putting your foot on the brake. And I think that’s where Jordin Canada is right now,” Swoopes said from the 3:22 mark onward.

“When Jordin Canada is just hesitant and she’s passing the rock, which she’s very good at, and she’s defending, which she’s very good at, Atlanta’s a different team. And what I saw, even from Game 1, not only does she look hesitant, she just doesn’t look very confident to me. There were so many times, and not just Game 6, but in this series, when I look at her and she catches the ball, she seems confused or uncertain. She’s thinking, ‘I know I’m wide open, but I’ve got Allisha Gray over here, I got Rhyne Howard over here, I got Angel right here.’ But the thing is, you’re the one that’s wide open. They’re not. I feel like she’s trying to make the extra pass or take the extra dribble, and then she finds herself in a situation where she’s just unsure of herself. And that’s, like, the last thing you want to happen when you get in the finals.”

Trusted to help lead the team alongside the Dream’s big three, Canada has not delivered the offensive production Atlanta has come to expect from her. After averaging 22.3 points, 7.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in the semifinals against the Liberty, the veteran guard is currently averaging 10.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game in the championship series. Her shooting numbers have also taken a significant dip. Canada has shot just 22 of 68 in the finals, compared to 23 of 37 across three games against the Liberty.

Jordin Canada showed some fight in Game 6, but still couldn’t find her scoring touch

Canada showed some spirit in Game 6, but her overall offensive production largely remained the same. She attempted the second-most field goals on the team (4-of-13), behind Angel Reese (5-of-18), but struggled to convert those opportunities. Her 3-point shooting also failed to click, as she went 1-of-6 from beyond the arc. She finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. She also committed three turnovers.

All of that can change if Canada delivers a better performance in Game 7. She needs to be better across the board, putting pressure on the Valkyries from the opening tip, knocking down her shots and bringing back her physical edge. Most importantly, she needs to play with pride and aggression if Atlanta doesn’t want its season to come to a dramatic end.

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