Golden State Valkyries Rally Late Defeating Atlanta Dream in WNBA Finals Opener, 68-64

The Golden State Valkyries opened the 2026 WNBA Finals with a 68-64 victory over the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday. Despite trailing for much of the contest, Golden State rallied late to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series. The Valkyries closed the game with a decisive scoring run, turning a late deficit into a crucial home victory in the franchise’s first Finals appearance.

Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26 points, delivering the defining performance of the night. She scored 16 points in the second quarter and came through at the free-throw line during the closing minutes. Williams converted two free throws to give Golden State the lead with 1:18 remaining, then added two more with 4.1 seconds left to help seal the win. No other Valkyries player reached double figures in scoring.

Atlanta had opportunities to take control of the series opener but struggled to convert late in the game. Allisha Gray led the Dream with 19 points in her return from a hand injury, while Angel Reese recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds. Rhyne Howard added 12 points. As a team, Atlanta shot 32.8% from the field and made just one field goal over the final 7:16, leaving the Dream unable to protect their narrow advantage.

The closing minutes ultimately decided a tightly contested matchup between two teams pursuing their first WNBA championship. Golden State’s defensive pressure and late free throws proved decisive, while Atlanta was left to assess its offensive execution in the final stretch. The Dream will look to even the series in Game 2 on Monday, October 19, at Chase Center before the Finals move to Atlanta for Games 3 and 4.