Valkyries edge Dream in defensive battle to take Game 1 of WNBA Finals

Explainer

Gabby Williams scored 26 points and hit four crucial free throws in the final 78 seconds to lift the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-64 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday.

"We always knew we were going to find a way somehow," Williams said postgame as fans chanted her name.

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The victory gave the Valkyries a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and handed the Dream their first loss of the 2026 playoffs, snapping a 10-game winning streak.

How did the Valkyries pull out the win?

Golden State ended the game on a 7-0 run, with Williams scoring six of those points from the foul line.

She converted two free throws with 1:18 left to put the Valkyries ahead, and two more with 4.1 seconds remaining to seal it.

Williams was the only Valkyrie to score in double figures, as the team shot 32.1 per cent from the field and 7 of 33 from three-point range.

Her driving layup with 3:22 to play pulled Golden State within 62-61.

The Valkyries' defence held Atlanta to just eight points in the fourth quarter, with the Dream shooting 2-for-19 and 2-for-14 in the final period.

"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.

"That's been our bread and butter all season."

What went wrong for Atlanta in the final minutes?

The Dream had multiple chances to tie or take the lead in the final 70 seconds but came up empty.

Rhyne Howard missed a three-point try with 1:09 left.

Naz Hillmon also missed from deep.

Kiah Stokes missed the first of two free throws with 23.8 seconds left.

Then, with the Valkyries up two, Allisha Gray missed a three-pointer with nine seconds left.

"We were right there, right there, so that's why it hurts a little bit but it also motivates us," Dream coach Karl Smesko 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."

Gray led Atlanta with 19 points in her return from a hand injury.

Angel Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Jordin Canada contributed eight points, seven assists and five rebounds, hitting a timely 13-foot jumper with 4:23 remaining.

What was the impact of injuries in the game?

Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes hit her face hard on the floor trying to make a steal with 2:38 remaining and walked off to the locker room.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said her initial indication was that Hayes would be good for Game 2.

Williams was also tended to by an athletic trainer on the bench in the waning moments after Canada banged awkwardly into her knee on a box out during the late free throws.

"I'm OK, it was a long, physical game," Williams said afterward.

Gray was in the starting lineup after missing the last two games of Atlanta's semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty with an injured left ring finger on her shooting hand.

What are the keys to the series moving forward?

One of these two franchises will capture its first WNBA championship.

The Valkyries are undefeated at Chase Center this postseason, where the ear-piercing noise from a raucous "Ballhalla" crowd created a hostile environment.

Golden State's bench outscored Atlanta's 20-6 in Game 1, and the Valkyries played 10 players while the Dream used just seven.

All five Atlanta starters played at least 29 minutes, with Howard and Canada each logging 38 of 40 minutes.

The Valkyries also out-rebounded the Dream 41-35, including 12-7 on the offensive glass.

Kaila Charles led Golden State with 10 rebounds off the bench, and Kiah Stokes tied a playoff career-high with four blocks.

Game 2 is Monday night back at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Garbutt Disposal reported in October that Jordin Canada helped Atlanta advance to the semifinals with a 19-point performance against Washington.

With files from CBC News, The Globe and Mail and Golden State Valkyries