SAN FRANCISCO – Game 1 of the WNBA Finals

The Atlanta Dream found themselves with a three-point advantage as the game wound down to just over three minutes left. But, in a surprising turn of events, they failed to score again.

Gabby Williams played a crucial role, scoring 26 points and hitting six free throws in the final 2:15 of the game. This performance helped the Golden State Valkyries clinch a 68–64 victory over the Dream at Chase Center. Golden State wrapped up the game with a strong 7–0 run, overcoming a seven-point deficit earlier in the fourth quarter.

In the final frame, Atlanta struggled, managing only eight points, and didn’t connect on a field goal after Jordin Canada’s jumper at 4:23. They had clear opportunities but, unfortunately, missed several chances in the closing minutes.

DREAM, VALKYRIES LEAVE COURT FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM, RETURN SECONDS LATER BEFORE WNBA FINALS

Golden State’s defense stepped up when it mattered most. Trailing 62–59, Veronica Burton blocked a layup attempt by Canada, while Kiah Stokes rejected Angel Reese on the same possession. Tiffany Hayes grabbed the rebound and quickly found Williams, who scored a running layup to narrow the gap to one point with 3:22 left.

Stokes finished the game with five blocks, significantly impacting the score. Rhyne Howard managed to extend Atlanta’s lead back to three with two free throws, but Williams quickly countered, sinking four consecutive free throws, giving Golden State a 65–64 lead with 1:18 left.

Reese managed to steal the ball from Williams twice in the final 1:41, which could have altered the game’s outcome. However, Atlanta couldn’t capitalize; Allisha Gray missed a layup after the first steal, and Naz Hillmon was off target from three-point range after the second.

With 23.8 seconds left, Stokes made one of two free throws to make it 66–64. Unfortunately for Atlanta, Gray missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer, and Williams sealed the game with two additional free throws, leaving just 4.1 seconds on the clock.

Fans Let the Officials Hear It

As the game reached its climax, the Chase Center crowd voiced their frustrations with the officiating, chanting loudly. Throughout the first three quarters, Atlanta had attempted 17 free throws, while Golden State only had 5. By the end of the game, the Dream went 18-for-21 from the line, compared to the Valkyries’ 11-for-16.

One particularly controversial moment came with 3:12 remaining when Howard drove to the basket. Burton was called for a foul and stayed down for several moments, leading to a review that found no foul on Howard.

Howard’s two made free throws briefly put the Dream ahead 64–61, marking their final points of the game.

In a further twist, Hayes went down holding her face while attempting a steal soon after, just before Burton blocked Gray’s shot. The crowd responded again with displeasure when no foul was called or reviewed in that instance.

Reese Starts Strong, Williams Leads Golden State Back

Despite the defensive prowess of both teams, the first half ended with an impressive combined total of 81 points. Reese played a significant role early on, netting 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting during the first quarter. She contributed to an 11–0 run that gave Atlanta a temporary lead, though she did not score again after that quarter, finishing with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

On the other hand, Williams found her groove in the second quarter, scoring all 16 of her first-half points during that stretch, shooting 6-for-9 and making three three-pointers, guiding Golden State to a 42–39 lead at halftime.

That performance didn’t quite meet Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase’s expectations, as she expressed her dissatisfaction at halftime, noting that the team’s defense was lacking.

In the third quarter, Golden State’s offensive struggles became apparent as they managed only nine points, allowing Atlanta to take a 56–51 lead into the fourth. Gray, who led the Dream with 19 points, hit two crucial shots in the last two minutes of the third, helping restore Atlanta’s control.

Ultimately, the second half produced just 51 points in total, aligning more with both teams’ defensive reputations, as the Valkyries relied heavily on Williams to keep them afloat while Atlanta repeatedly faltered in critical moments.