The Golden State Valkyries overcame a late surge from the Atlanta Dream to claim a 68-64 victory in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Guard Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points, including four decisive free throws in the final moments that secured the win. The matchup marked the Dream’s first postseason loss after a 10-game winning streak.
Williams scored 16 of her points during the second quarter, carrying much of the offensive load as no other Valkyries finished in double figures. Golden State’s shooting struggled overall, with the team converting just over 32 percent of their shots and sinking only 7 of 33 attempts from beyond the arc. Despite these difficulties, the Valkyries relied on their defensive intensity, a hallmark of their season, to maintain control down the stretch.
Atlanta, seeking its first Finals victory in franchise history after three prior swept appearances, kept the game competitive throughout. Forward Angel Reese contributed a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, while Allisha Gray returned from a finger injury to score 19 points. Guard Jordin Canada also played a key role, providing timely scoring and distribution, including a critical jumper with about four minutes remaining.
In the closing moments, the Dream had several opportunities to take the lead but missed a series of crucial shots and free throws. Rhyne Howard’s missed three-pointer at just over a minute left was followed by a steal from Reese and a series of missed attempts by Naz Hillmon, Kiah Stokes, and Gray. Williams then calmly converted two free throws with 18 seconds remaining and added two more in the final seconds to seal the result.
The Valkyries faced some physical challenges late in the game. Williams was briefly attended to by medical staff after an awkward collision, but she remained on the court. Additionally, teammate Tiffany Hayes suffered a facial injury during a defensive play but was able to walk off the floor under her own power. Both players are expected to participate in Game 2.
The arena’s raucous home crowd, nicknamed “Ballhalla,” provided a hostile atmosphere that Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase had encouraged. Nakase praised Hayes’s toughness and expressed confidence in the team’s preparation moving forward.
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko stressed the near-miss nature of the loss and promised to focus on adjustments ahead of the next game. The best-of-seven series continues Monday night at Golden State’s Chase Center, with both teams anticipating a hard-fought battle for the championship.