Williams scores 26 as Valkyries beat Dream 68-64 in WNBA Finals opener
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15. Gabby Williams scored 26 points, including a decisive late run, as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Saturday. Golden State closed on a 7-0 run to secure a 1-0 series lead, overcoming an earlier seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Dream failed to score after Jordin Canada’s jumper with 4:23 remaining, finishing with just eight points in the final frame.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 15. Gabby Williams scored 26 points, including a decisive late run, as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Saturday. Golden State closed on a 7-0 run to secure a 1-0 series lead, overcoming an earlier seven-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The Dream failed to score after Jordin Canada’s jumper with 4:23 remaining, finishing with just eight points in the final frame.
The turning point came with the Valkyries trailing 62-59. Veronica Burton blocked Canada’s layup, and Kiah Stokes rejected Angel Reese on the same possession. Tiffany Hayes secured the rebound and passed to Williams for a running layup, cutting the deficit to one point with 3:22 left. Stokes recorded five blocks in the game. Rhyne Howard extended Atlanta’s lead to three points with free throws, but Williams responded with four consecutive free throws to put Golden State ahead 65-64 with 1:18 remaining.
Reese stole the ball from Williams twice in the final 1:41, but neither possession resulted in a point. Allisha Gray missed a layup after the first steal, and Naz Hillmon missed a three-pointer after the second. With under 24 seconds on the clock, Stokes converted one of two free throws to narrow the gap to two points. Following a missed attempt by Gray, Williams sank two free throws in the final seconds to seal the victory.
Chase Center spectators repeatedly chanted at the officials. Through three quarters, Atlanta attempted 17 free throws compared to five for Golden State. The Dream finished 18-for-21 from the line, while the Valkyries shot 11-for-16. With 3:12 remaining, Howard drove to the basket and was fouled by Burton. Officials reviewed the play for a possible hostile act by Howard but assessed no additional foul. Howard made both free throws to give Atlanta a 64-61 lead, which remained their final score.
In the first half, Reese scored 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the first quarter, including nine points during Atlanta’s closing 11-0 run. She finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, scoring all remaining points in the second quarter on free throws. Williams scored all 16 of her first-half points in the second quarter, shooting 6-for-9 and hitting three three-pointers. Golden State outscored Atlanta 28-17 in that period to take a 42-39 halftime lead.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase criticized her team’s start at halftime, stating they were sleeping in the first quarter and that their defense was terrible. Golden State’s offense struggled in the third quarter, scoring just nine points as Atlanta took a 56-51 lead into the fourth. Gray led the Dream with 19 points, making two jumpers late in the third quarter. The teams combined for only 51 points after halftime.