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Friday, October 30, 2026

Dream force Game 7 Saturday; early voting ends today

Plus, the Braves keep Acuña and Albies, and the Hawks snap a three-game skid.

The Morning Marietta team4 stories17 sources6 min read

SportsTop story

The Dream beat the Valkyries 80-⁠69 and forced a Game 7 for the WNBA title

The Dream beat the Valkyries to tie the Finals 3-⁠3

  • Golden State Valkyries69
    Atlanta Dream80
    FinalThe best-of-seven series is tied 3-3.

Sources: CBS Atlanta, Albany Herald

If you sneaked away for the Dream on Thursday, you had company. WSB-TV reported 17,000-plus fans as Atlanta beat Golden State 80-69 to force the first-ever in the WNBA Finals, per the Albany Herald. Allisha Gray scored 23 points and Rhyne Howard added 21.

  • Game 7: Sat., Oct. 31, 8 p.m., at Chase Center in San Francisco
  • Game 6 tip: 12:30 p.m., a Thursday matinee
  • Sold out: Games 3, 4 and 6 at

It got tense. The lead shrank from 19 to eight with a minute to play, then Gray hit a corner 3 with 56 seconds left. Angel Reese had 15 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Coach Karl Smesko said, “We’ve got one more game. We expect to go out there and play great.” Mayor Andre Dickens, per Atlanta News First, asked educators and employers to “extend grace” to people watching during work hours.

The Dream won with a fast start and 13 threes

32First-quarter points15
46Halftime points26
133-pointers made7

Source: CBS Atlanta

Sports

The Braves exercised 2027 club options on Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies

If you follow the Braves' offseason, two names are settled. The team exercised 2027 club options on Acuña ($17 million) and Albies ($7 million) Thursday, as expected. Atlanta can decide later whether to exercise another $17 million option on Acuña for 2028. Albies will be eligible for free agency after next season unless he signs another contract.

The Braves picked up two club options Thursday

$17 million
for Acuña's 2027 salary
$7 million
for Albies's 2027 salary
$4 million
for the buyout in Albies's option
10
other players who became free agents

Sources: 41NBC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

  • Acuña 2026: .255, 20 home runs, 21 stolen bases
  • Albies 2026: .237 average, 22 home runs, .685 OPS
  • Albies second half: .194 average, .575 OPS
  • Albies playoff OPS: 1.067

Acuña, the 2023 National League MVP, missed about a third of the season with two left hamstring injuries. The AJC says Albies, who turns 30 in January, earned his fourth All-Star nod, and the option's $4 million buyout made exercising it an obvious choice. The Braves also reinstated pitchers Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz from the 60-day injured list, though some could begin 2027 on it.

Albies played all 162 games, and Acuña played 107

107Games played162
20Home runs22

Sources: 41NBC News, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Sports

The Hawks snapped a three-game skid with a 114-⁠111 win over the Cavaliers

The Hawks beat Cleveland 114-111 Thursday night at after three straight losses. Onyeka Okongwu led all scorers with 29 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker added 25. Aaron Wiggins had 20 off the bench.

The Hawks edged the Cavaliers 114-⁠111

  • Cleveland Cavaliers111
    Atlanta Hawks114
    FinalThe Hawks ended a three-game losing streak.

Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta News First

  • Next game: Saturday at the New Orleans Pelicans
  • Watch: WANF channel 46.1 or Peachtree Sports Network
  • Cavaliers: six players in double figures, James Harden led with 24

It got tight late. Atlanta News First reports the Hawks were up 89-82 at the start of the third quarter. Cleveland ran off a 12-4 run to make it 112-111 with 20.6 seconds left, but Donovan Mitchell's corner 3 to tie it fell short.

Okongwu led the Hawks with 29 points

Sources: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta News First

View as table
Value
Onyeka Okongwu29 points
Nickeil Alexander-Walker25 points
Aaron Wiggins20 points
Jalen Johnson17 points

Asked

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Asked

How do you plan to watch the Dream in Game 7 on Saturday night?

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Elections

Early voting ends Friday, and candidates are making final pushes before Nov. 3

If you haven't voted yet, early voting ends Friday, Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3. At Thursday night's NAACP "We The People" town hall at Elizabeth Baptist Church, speakers included Kamala Harris and Mayor Andre Dickens, and voters left with last-minute tips.

Early voting ends Friday and Election Day is Nov. 3

  1. Oct. 29The NAACP "We The People" town hall meets at Elizabeth Baptist Church.
  2. Oct. 30Early voting ends.
  3. Nov. 3Election Day.

Source: Atlanta News First

  • Have a plan to vote
  • Learn who and what is on your ballot
  • Decide where and when you will vote

Both parties worked the final days. FOX 5 Atlanta reported Harris was expected to urge support for Democrats Keisha Lance Bottoms and Jon Ossoff. Republican Mike Collins was scheduled to meet supporters in Carrollton, and Republican Rick Jackson planned to campaign with Gov. Brian Kemp. 11Alive has video of Kemp endorsing Jackson in front of voters.

Harris held a town hall Thursday; Collins and Jackson had events planned

WhoWhatWhere
Kamala HarrisNAACP town hallElizabeth Baptist Church
Mike CollinsMeeting with supportersSunset Hills Country Club, Carrollton
Rick Jackson, Brian KempMeet-and-greetsBarrow and Walton counties

Sources: Atlanta News First, FOX 5 Atlanta

Quoted

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

— Maya Angelou

The Buy

News Notes

Living wage

A single adult with no children in Cobb County needs $27.10 an hour to cover basic living expenses, per the Living Wage Calculator. Gwinnett is $27.32 an hour, or $56,821 a year before taxes. FOX 5 Atlanta

Campbell football

The Marietta Daily Journal reports that Campbell faces a must-win game at North Atlanta. Marietta Daily Journal

Atlanta United

Atlanta United's 2027 sprint season is 14 games, seven home and seven away. It opens at home Feb. 20 against Toronto FC. Atlanta News First

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Atlanta United will play seven home games in its 2027 sprint season

  1. Feb. 20Atlanta United will host Toronto FC to open the season.
  2. Feb. 27Inter Miami will visit Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
  3. March 20Atlanta United will host Charlotte FC.
  4. April 10Atlanta United will host Orlando City SC.
  5. May 8Atlanta United will host Philadelphia Union to end the season.

Source: Atlanta News First

Asked

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Asked

When do you plan to vote in this election?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Marietta, GA

Friday, Oct. 30

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Lost and found

Hello everyone.

“I’m new to the Nextdoor app. I’m writing because this morning We lost our five month old kitten when he ran out of the door around 6:30 this morning. He’s a gray male tabby cat with stripes. He is chipped. If you come across him and bring him to the vet, please let us know or if you were somehow able to capture him…”

— A neighbor, North Landing

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The Wrap

If you want a Halloween plan that isn't a party, try Movies in Concert. "Hocus Pocus" plays on a 40-foot screen with the film score performed live, tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Symphony Hall. It runs through Sun., Nov. 1, and tickets are listed at $54. A witch hat feels like the right accessory.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? DOJ monitors will be at Cobb polling places Nov. 3, and Obama rallied in Morrow

Read yesterday’s edition

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Every source in this edition17 links · 11 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. WSB-TVwsbtv.com
  3. CBS Atlantacbsnews.com
  4. Albany Heraldalbanyherald.com
  5. The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionajc.com
  6. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  7. 41NBC News41nbc.com
  8. The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionajc.com
  9. The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionajc.com
  10. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  11. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  12. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  13. 11Alive.com11alive.com
  14. FOX 5 Atlantafox5atlanta.com
  15. Marietta Daily Journalmdjonline.com
  16. Atlanta News Firstatlantanewsfirst.com
  17. Marietta events calendarmorningmarietta.com

Past issues

  1. Mon., Nov. 2Falcons shut out 16-0 by Bucs; Olson, Dubón win Gold Gloves
  2. Sun., Nov. 1Georgia beat Florida 27-8 in the rivalry's first game in Atlanta
  3. Sat., Oct. 31The Oct. 31 edition
  4. Thurs., Oct. 29The Oct. 29 edition
  5. Wed., Oct. 28Smyrna candidate charged; 2 million Georgians have voted early
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Morning Mariettato me · Fri., Oct. 306:00 a.m.

Dream force Game 7 Saturday; early voting ends today

Plus, the Braves keep Acuña and Albies, and the Hawks snap a three-game skid.

The TLDR

  1. Dream beat Golden State 80-69 and force a Game 7 Saturday at 8 p.m.
  2. Braves exercise 2027 options on Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies
  3. Hawks end a three-game losing streak with a 114-111 win
Read this edition

More stories this week

From Morning Marietta’s other editions

All the news
SportsThe Falcons were shut out 16-0 by the Buccaneers in a Tampa downpourIf you caught the Falcons on Sunday, you saw a strange one. The Buccaneers beat Atlanta 16-0 in the rain at Raymond James Stadium, and Baker Mayfield didn't complete a pass. Tampa Bay is the first team to finish with zero completions since Buffalo on Sept. 29, 1974.Today’s editionRead SportsBraves Matt Olson and Mauricio Dubón each win a Gold GloveTwo Braves won Rawlings Gold Glove Awards on Sunday night: first baseman Matt Olson, for the fourth time, and utilityman Mauricio Dubón, for the third. They're Atlanta's first duo to win in the same year since Max Fried and Dansby Swanson in 2022.Today’s editionRead BulldogsGeorgia beat Florida 27-8 in the rivalry's first game in AtlantaGeorgia won Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and it did it on the ground. The Bulldogs ran for 217 yards on 42 carries and outgained Florida 318 to 246. Linebacker Chris Cole's fumble-return touchdown, one of four Georgia takeaways, made it 24-0 just before halftime.Sunday’s editionRead

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