Gabby Williams scored 26 points, including crucial free throws down the stretch, to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-64 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Williams, who faced tough defensive pressure throughout the game, was instrumental in the second quarter, contributing 16 points as the Valkyries established an early lead. Despite a challenging shooting night for the team—Golden State converted just 32.1% from the field and went 7-for-33 from three-point range—Williams remained a consistent offensive threat. No other player on the team reached double digits in scoring.
In the final minutes, Williams sank two critical free throws with 1:18 remaining to give Golden State a narrow lead. She then added two more with 4.1 seconds left to secure the win. “Even though we were down with a few minutes left, I think we had the game right where we wanted it because it just came down to getting stops,” Williams said after the game. “That’s been our bread and butter all season. That’s why we harp on it so much because we’ve built great defensive habits for these moments.” Her confidence reflected the team's defensive identity, which has been a key factor throughout the season.
Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, returning from an injury that sidelined her during the semifinals, led the Dream with 19 points. Angel Reese contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordin Canada added eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Canada also hit a timely jumper in the fourth quarter to keep Atlanta in contention. However, Atlanta was unable to capitalize on several late opportunities, missing multiple three-point attempts in the closing moments.
The defeat marked Atlanta's first loss of the postseason, ending a 10-game winning streak. Coach Karl Smesko noted the narrow margin and remained optimistic about the series. “We were right there, right there, so that’s why it hurts a little bit but it also motivates us,” he said. “We know what we’re capable of doing so we’ll have one day to get ourselves as ready as possible and then I think we’ll play even better.” The Dream has yet to win a WNBA Finals game, having been swept in each of their previous three trips to the championship round.
The physical nature of the contest was evident throughout. Williams sustained some apparent discomfort late in the game after a collision with Canada but reported afterward that she was fine. Meanwhile, Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase highlighted the role of the energetic home crowd in cultivating a hostile environment for the visitors.
Game 2 of the best-of-seven finals series is scheduled for Monday night at Chase Center, where both teams are expected to continue their defensive struggles in pursuit of their first-ever WNBA championship.