Valkyries Beat Dream 68-64 in WNBA Finals Game 1

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-64 behind Gabby Williams’ game-high 26 points in WNBA Finals Game 1 on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Golden State outscored Atlanta 17-8 in the fourth quarter at Chase Center to take a 1-0 series lead.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

First Quarter: Dream Establish an Early Advantage

Atlanta opened with a 22-14 first quarter, building an eight-point lead. Those 22 points represented the Dream’s highest-scoring period of the afternoon and put Golden State in an early deficit.

Second Quarter: Valkyries Move Ahead

Golden State responded with its most productive quarter, outscoring Atlanta 28-17. The 11-point advantage in the period erased the opening deficit and sent the Valkyries into halftime ahead 42-39.

Third Quarter: Atlanta Regains the Lead

The Dream reversed the momentum after halftime, holding Golden State to nine points while scoring 17. Atlanta entered the fourth quarter ahead 56-51, having turned a three-point halftime deficit into a five-point lead.

Fourth Quarter: Golden State Finishes Stronger

The Valkyries delivered the decisive response, outscoring the Dream 17-8 over the final 10 minutes. Atlanta’s eight points were its lowest total in any quarter, allowing Golden State to complete the comeback and secure a four-point victory without overtime.

Key Performers

• Gabby Williams, Golden State: Led all scorers with 26 points, accounting for 38.2% of the Valkyries’ total offense.
• Kaila Charles, Golden State: Collected a team-high 10 rebounds as the Valkyries finished with a 41-35 advantage on the boards.
• Tiffany Hayes, Golden State: Led the home team with four assists.
• Allisha Gray, Atlanta: Paced the Dream with 19 points.
• Angel Reese, Atlanta: Recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Jordin Canada, Atlanta: Delivered a game-high seven assists, accounting for nearly half of Atlanta’s 15.

NerdSports Stat: Golden State outscored Atlanta by 20 points across the second and fourth quarters combined, 45-25, overcoming a 16-point deficit across the first and third quarters.

Game Analysis: Extra Attempts and a Decisive Fourth Quarter

Neither team found consistent shooting efficiency. Golden State finished 25-for-78 from the field, shooting 32.1%, while Atlanta went 21-for-64 for 32.8%. The Valkyries nevertheless converted four more field goals by taking 14 more attempts.

Golden State also gained an important advantage from beyond the arc. The Valkyries made seven of 33 three-point attempts, compared with Atlanta’s four of 25. Neither percentage was strong—21.2% for Golden State and 16.0% for Atlanta—but the three additional makes gave the home team a nine-point advantage on three-pointers.

Atlanta offset much of that difference at the free-throw line, making 18 of 21 attempts to Golden State’s 11 of 16. The Dream’s seven-point edge there kept the final margin close, but their fourth-quarter scoring decline proved decisive.

Golden State’s six-rebound advantage was another useful margin in a game filled with missed shots. Both teams finished with 15 assists, while Williams supplied the largest individual scoring contribution. Ultimately, the Valkyries’ ability to recover from another deficit entering the fourth separated the teams.

What the Result Means

Golden State leads the best-of-seven WNBA Finals 1-0 after winning the opener in front of 18,064 fans at Chase Center. The Valkyries entered the postseason with a listed 32-12 regular-season record, compared with Atlanta’s 30-14. The teams meet again Monday, October 19, at 5:00 p.m. PDT, with Golden State seeking a 2-0 series lead and Atlanta looking to even the Finals.

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