Williams Ices It – Valkyries Steal Game 1

Gabby Williams scored 26 points and sank late free throws as Golden State edged Atlanta 68-64 to open the WNBA Finals at Chase Center.

Story Highlights

Golden State won Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, 68-64, in San Francisco.
The Valkyries closed strong, outscoring Atlanta 17-8 in the fourth quarter.
Gabby Williams led with 26 points and sealed the win at the line.
Defense carried Golden State despite a cold shooting night.

Game 1 Result and What Decided It

Golden State beat Atlanta 68-64 in the WNBA Finals opener at Chase Center on October 17, taking a 1-0 series lead. Fourth-quarter defense and free throws decided the game. The Valkyries held the Dream to eight points in the final period and scored 17 themselves to flip the result late. The win came after a tight, physical game with long scoreless stretches for both teams and constant half-court pressure by Golden State.

Guard-forward Gabby Williams was the difference maker. She finished with 26 points and hit two free throws with 1:18 left to push Golden State ahead, then added two more with 4.1 seconds to secure the margin. Her drives drew contact, and her poise at the stripe ended Atlanta’s last chance. The late makes capped a night when baskets were hard to find and placed Williams at the center of the closing run.

How the Valkyries Won on an Off Night

Golden State won even while shooting poorly from the field. Reporters on site described a grinding game in which the Valkyries leaned on defense, rebounding, and late free throws to survive the cold spells. The team’s rotations cut off Atlanta’s driving lanes and forced tough jumpers. That plan paid off in the fourth quarter, when the Dream managed only eight points and lost control of the tempo.

Quarter-by-quarter scoring shows the late swing. Atlanta led after one, while Golden State burst ahead with a strong second quarter. The Dream steadied in the third, then stalled in the fourth under pressure as the Valkyries closed the game 17-8 over the final 10 minutes. That split matched the on-court feel: tight half-court sets, few transition chances, and extra value on each trip. In that frame, Golden State’s stops and free throws became the deciding edge.

Why Game 1 Matters in Today’s Finals Format

The league expanded the Finals to a best-of-seven in 2025 with a 2-2-1-1-1 schedule, changing how early wins shape a series. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 under this structure. A home win in Game 1 protects that edge, but it does not settle a matchup. History shows teams can respond after an opening loss, especially when they get two home dates later in the series. Thursday’s result is a step, not a finish.

Golden State Valkyries retain and relish their Ballhalla advantage in a bruising win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals: https://t.co/YrS8oOIk8K

— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) October 18, 2026

The broader picture around the league adds weight to nights like this. The Women’s National Basketball Association reported record attendance and strong television growth in its 30th season, signaling deeper fan interest and more eyes on the Finals stage. That growth raises the stakes for late-game execution and composure. In Game 1, Golden State delivered both in the closing minutes. Atlanta now faces pressure to answer at the same level in Game 2 on the same floor.