Golden State Valkyries Beat Atlanta Dream in WNBA Finals Game 1

The Golden State Valkyries claimed a 68-64 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center, overcoming a sluggish start behind a 26-point performance from Gabby Williams and late defensive stops.

Williams Carries Valkyries Past Atlanta in Opener

For the first 40 minutes of the championship series, the Golden State Valkyries stood tallest after a defensive slugfest where both teams combined to shoot just 32.4% from the field. Playing in the Finals in just their second year since joining the league as an expansion franchise, the hosts at Chase Center — dubbed Ballhalla in a nod to the team’s Norse roots — found themselves trailing by three points with just over three minutes left on the clock.

Enter Gabby Williams. The veteran forward carried the scoring load for Golden State, finishing with 26 points, four rebounds, and two assists as the only Valkyries player to score in double figures. With 2:15 remaining, she forced the issue to earn a trip to the foul line, making both shots to pull her team within a point. Her second pair of free throws later put Golden State ahead 65–64 with 1.18 remaining, and she sealed the outcome at the line with 4.1 seconds left.

Whoever stays the most composed will win.

Gabby Williams, Golden State Valkyries forward

The victory did not come easily for Williams, who shot 8-for-22 from the field, but her impact was unmatched. Head coach Natalie Nakase admitted her squad started slowly, noting that the team was sleeping through the entire first quarter after falling behind early.

Reese Dominates Early Before Cold Finish

Atlanta arrived in San Francisco riding a 10-game winning streak across the regular season and postseason, and Angel Reese made certain that momentum showed immediately. The third-year star dominated the opening frame, scoring 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first quarter alone while fueling an 11-0 run that helped the Dream build a 22-14 lead.

Reese finished with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, but her offensive production ground to a halt after the opening period. She took just two shots in the second half, missing both, and was shut out entirely in the final two quarters outside of three first-half free throws. Foul trouble also mounted for the forward, who picked up five fouls over the course of the evening.

The Dream’s offense stalled completely down the stretch. Atlanta scored just eight points in the final frame, failing to make a single field goal after Jordin Canada’s jumper with 4:23 remaining. Consecutive steals by Reese against Williams in the final two minutes gave the Dream chances to steal the game, but Allisha Gray missed a layup and Naz Hillmon missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possessions.

Two Distinct Franchises Meet in the Finals

The matchup represents a departure from the traditional WNBA championship blueprint of bottoming out for multiple No. 1 overall picks. While the Dream constructed their roster through active trades under general manager Dan Padover — acquiring players like Reese, Canada, and Gray — the Valkyries built theirs through the 2025 expansion draft, free agency, and waiver wire without making a single trade.

Prominent figures from film and music have regularly attended matchups across the league, with George Lucas, Ali Wong, Kehlani, and E-40 supporting Golden State, while Queen Latifah, Future, and Jayda Cheaves represent the fanbase for Atlanta.

With Game 1 in the books, the series remains in San Francisco for Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 19, before shifting to State Farm Arena in Atlanta for Games 3 and 4.

Atlanta last reached the Finals in 2013.