Valkyries 68, Dream 64: WNBA Finals Game 1

Gabby Williams scored 26 points and the Golden State Valkyries held off the Atlanta Dream 68-64 on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the WNBA Finals at Chase Center. The Valkyries improved to 32-12 while the Dream fell to 30-14 in the best-of-seven series.

Golden State erased a 14-point first-quarter deficit by outscoring Atlanta 28-9 in the second period, the swing that decided Game 1. Allisha Gray led the Dream with 19 points, but Angel Reese’s 14 points and 12 rebounds were not enough to offset Atlanta’s 33% shooting from the field.

Atlanta built a 22-14 lead after the first quarter. The Dream led by as many as nine points in the opening frame before Golden State narrowed it to 20-14.

Golden State flipped the game in the second quarter. Gabby Williams dominated, scoring 14 of her 26 points in the period, including back-to-back three-pointers and a driving layup that tied the score 37-37 with 2:32 left. Williams’ three-pointer and running layup stretched the lead to 42-37 at halftime. The Valkyries outscored Atlanta 28-9 for the quarter.

Atlanta answered with a 17-9 third quarter, tying the game at 42-42 on a Rhyne Howard jumper and retaking a brief lead at 43-42 on an Allisha Gray free throw. Golden State pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Atlanta 17-8 to secure the win.

Williams finished 8 of 22 from the field with three 3-pointers, seven free throws and a plus-16 rating in 33 minutes. Kaila Charles grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Golden State, while Kiah Stokes added nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 25 minutes off the bench.

For Atlanta, Gray shot 5 of 19 from the field but went 8 for 8 at the free-throw line. Reese finished 5 of 11 with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jordin Canada added eight points and seven assists, while Rhyne Howard scored 12 points on 3-of-14 shooting.

Golden State’s defense forced 12 Atlanta turnovers and turned them into 17 points, while the Dream managed just eight points off Valkyries turnovers. The Valkyries also won the glass 41-35, including a 12-7 edge in offensive rebounds that generated extra scoring chances despite Golden State shooting only 32% from the field for the game.

Atlanta shot 4 of 25 from 3-point range but went 18 of 21 from the free-throw line. Golden State leads the series 1-0.

Game 2 follows at Chase Center before the series shifts to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. The Dream will look to even the series after leading by nine in the first quarter.