SAN FRANCISCO – The Atlanta Dream had a three-point lead with just over three minutes remaining in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday. They didn’t score again.
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Gabby Williams finished with 26 points and made six free throws in the final 2:15 as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Dream, 68-64, at Chase Center. Golden State closed on a 7-0 run to take a 1-0 series lead after trailing by seven earlier in the fourth quarter.
Gabby Williams scored 26 points and made six game-winning free throws as the Golden State Valkyries erased a late deficit to beat the Atlanta Dream in Game 1. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Atlanta scored just eight points in the final period and didn’t make a field goal after Jordin Canada’s jumper with 4:23 left. The Dream had the opportunity to steal the first away game. They spent the last few minutes disappearing one after the other.
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Golden State’s defense produced one of the most important sequences with the Valkyries trailing 62-59. Veronica Burton blocked Canada’s layup attempt and Kiah Stokes denied Angel Reese on the same possession. Tiffany Hayes grabbed the rebound and found Williams for a running layup that cut the deficit to one with 3:22 left.
Stokes finished with five blocks. This one helped turn a potential five-point deficit into a one-point game.
Rhyne Howard cut Atlanta’s lead to three with two free throws, but Williams responded with four in a row at the line. His second pair put Golden State ahead 65-64 with 1:18 left.
Reese stole the ball from Williams twice in the final 1:41, giving Atlanta chances to change the ending. Neither possession produced a point. Allisha Gray missed a layup after the first steal, and Naz Hillmon missed a three after the second.
Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon of the Atlanta Dream attend Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries. (NBAE via Getty Images)
Stokes split two free throws with 23.8 seconds left to make it 66-64. Gray then missed a potential go-ahead three, and Williams made two more free throws with 4.1 seconds left to put the game out of reach.
The fans hinted it to the officials during the last minutes
The Chase Center crowd made its feelings about the officials clear with repeated, loud chants of “Refs, you suck.” During three quarters, Atlanta had attempted 17 free throws to Golden State’s 5. The Dream finished 18 of 21 from the line, compared to 11 of 16 for the Valkyries.
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One of the most notable sequences occurred with 3:12 left, when Howard drove to the basket and Burton was cautioned for a foul. Burton fell holding his face and lay on the ground for a while. Officials reviewed the play for possible hostile action by Howard, but did not assess any fouling by the Atlanta guard.
Golden State Valkyries forward Veronica Burton was hit in the face against the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. (Getty Images)
Howard made both free throws to give the Dream their 64-61 lead. These are Atlanta’s final points.
Less than a minute later, Hayes fell holding her face after attempting a steal, just before Burton blocked Gray’s shot. There were no calls or crude revisions on this sequence, and another loud chant followed from the crowd.
Reese starts fast before Williams brings Golden State back
These teams account for six of the ten players named to the WNBA All-Defensive teams, but the first half produced a combined 81 points.
Reese did much of the early damage. She scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter, including nine during Atlanta’s 11-0 run to close the period. The Dream turned a 14-11 deficit into a 22-14 lead, with Reese providing half of their points.
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But she didn’t make another basket. Reese finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds, scoring his remaining three points on free throws in the second quarter.
Williams took over in the second quarter, scoring all 16 of his first-half points during that span. She shot 6 of 9 and scored three points as Golden State outscored Atlanta 28-17 to take a 42-39 halftime lead.
The Golden State Valkyries celebrate during Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream. (NBAE via Getty Images)
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That wasn’t enough to satisfy Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase.
“We slept the whole first quarter,” Nakase said at the break. She added: “Our defense is terrible right now!”
Golden State’s offense became the problem in the third quarter. The Valkyries scored just nine points and Atlanta took a 56-51 lead into the fourth. Gray, who led the Dream with 19 points, made two jumpers in the final two minutes of the third to help Atlanta regain control.
The teams combined for just 51 points after halftime, which is a much better match for their defensive reputations.
Golden State was offended enough by Williams to survive it. Atlanta couldn’t find a basket when it needed one.
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