Golden State Valkyries Hold Off Atlanta Dream to Take Game 1 of WNBA Finals
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries opened their WNBA Finals campaign with a hard-fought 68-64 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, using their defensive strength and late-game composure to secure the opening win in the best-of-seven series.
Both teams entered the Finals with strong defensive records. Golden State finished the regular season with the league’s best defensive rating, while Atlanta ranked third. The Dream led the WNBA in steals per game, with the Valkyries sitting fourth.
With both sides capable of disrupting their opponents, Game 1 came down to ball control, defensive stops and execution in the closing minutes.
Gabby Williams led Golden State with 26 points, while Allisha Gray, returning from a hand injury, finished with 19 points for Atlanta.
The Dream struggled from beyond the arc, missing five three-point attempts during the final two and a half minutes. Gray’s final attempt, a 23-footer with just 2.1 seconds remaining, also missed the target.
Atlanta coach Karl Smesko felt his team had opportunities to change the outcome but failed to convert when it mattered most.
“Some of (the late 3-point attempts) were good,” Smesko said. “Some of them, they had us well defended and we were getting late on the clock. But we had a couple, what I would call good looks, just didn’t go down for us.”
He pointed to open opportunities for Gray and Rhyne Howard, suggesting that making either shot could have changed the conversation around the team's late-game mistakes.
Shooting was a problem for both teams throughout the contest. Atlanta made only four of 25 attempts from three-point range, while Golden State connected on seven of 33. Neither team managed to shoot above 33% from the field.
Valkyries Rally in the Fourth Quarter
Atlanta entered the final quarter holding a five-point advantage, but Golden State gradually fought its way back into the contest.
The Valkyries outscored the Dream 17-8 in the fourth quarter, turning a close game in their favour through defensive pressure and timely scoring.
Williams played through discomfort after appearing to hurt her left knee late in the game. With four seconds remaining, she drew a foul and calmly converted both free throws to help seal the victory.
Williams said the team remained confident even when it was trailing late in the contest.
“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,” she said. “That’s been our bread and butter all season.”
The result gives Golden State an early advantage, while Atlanta will look to respond when the teams meet again on Monday at Chase Center.
Allisha Gray Returns From Hand Injury
Gray made her presence felt from the opening possession, attacking the basket after finding a clear path to the rim. Her aggressive approach continued throughout the game as she tried to help Atlanta overcome Golden State’s defence.
Although she finished with 19 points, Gray struggled with her shooting efficiency. She made just five of 19 attempts from the field and connected on one of eight three-point shots. She was perfect from the free-throw line, scoring eight of her points at the stripe.
Her return was a significant development for Atlanta after she missed time because of an injury to her left shooting hand. Gray had been sidelined since Oct. 4, when she was hurt during the opening game of the semifinals against the New York Liberty.
Before the game, Gray had indicated she would only play if she felt fully fit, making her availability a decision that went down to game time.
After the loss, she said she felt good and was pleased to have handled the physical challenge posed by Golden State’s defence.
Gray had been Atlanta’s leading scorer during the regular season, averaging 19 points per game. Her absence during the semifinals had forced other players to take on more responsibility.
Jordin Canada averaged 22 points across the three-game series against New York, while DeWanna Bonner contributed an average of 15 points. However, both players were held to single-digit scoring totals against the Valkyries in Game 1.
Atlanta will need greater offensive contributions from its supporting players if it hopes to level the series.
Angel Reese Goes Quiet After Strong First Half
Angel Reese enjoyed an impressive opening half, scoring 14 points and collecting six rebounds despite Golden State using several defenders to limit her influence.
Her impact, however, dropped sharply after the break. Reese failed to score in the second half and attempted only two shots, both during the fourth quarter.
Reese said her struggles were more about her own decisions than anything Golden State had done defensively.
“I don’t think they were doing anything,” Reese said. “Maybe that’s just on me, I wasn’t aggressive enough with the ball, trying to get the ball and get to my spots.”
She added that she planned to be more assertive in the next game.
Smesko agreed that Atlanta needed to find better ways to get the ball to Reese and allow her to make an impact offensively.
Golden State, meanwhile, praised forward Laeticia Amihere for her work protecting the rim and defending Reese. Amihere scored only five points but finished with a plus-nine rating, reflecting her contributions beyond scoring.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase credited Amihere with playing a key role in the defensive strategy.
“LA did a fantastic job with that matchup,” Nakase said. “She had great energy. Again, she was kind of our insight with this gameplan.”
Nakase added that Amihere showed confidence in the assignment and was an important part of the team's success.
Tiffany Hayes Injury Update
Golden State also faced concern over Tiffany Hayes after she fell heavily while trying to intercept a pass from Canada to Gray with less than three minutes remaining.
Hayes needed assistance leaving the court and was taken to the Valkyries’ locker room for evaluation by the medical staff.
Nakase did not provide a definitive update on Hayes’ availability for Game 2. However, a team spokesperson said the player was “fine.”
Hayes has been an important option off the bench for Golden State throughout the season, particularly during the playoffs. She averaged 13.3 points across the team's first two postseason series.
Her shooting was off in Game 1, as she finished with three points on one-of-12 shooting. Nakase acknowledged the difficult night but praised Hayes for her determination and effort.
“She’s a fighter,” Nakase said. “She really wants this. I’m going to put a little bit more energy tonight in film because I want to win this for Tip. Because that type of fight was unmatched.”
Despite Hayes' shooting struggles, Golden State received valuable contributions from its reserves. The Valkyries’ bench outscored Atlanta’s 20-6, with Kaila Charles leading the way with seven points. Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen combined to add another 10.
Valkyries Look to Build on Game 1 Win
Golden State’s victory highlighted the importance of defence, bench production and late-game execution in a closely contested Finals opener.
Atlanta had opportunities to take control but struggled to convert its three-point attempts and could not maintain its advantage in the fourth quarter. Gray’s return was encouraging, although the Dream will need improved shooting and more consistent contributions from their key players.
The Valkyries, meanwhile, will look to carry their defensive intensity into Game 2 as they attempt to extend their series lead.
With the Dream expected to make adjustments, Monday’s matchup at Chase Center could provide another close contest as both teams continue their battle for the WNBA championship.
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