WNBA Finals: Gabby Williams leads Valkyries to nervy Game 1 win over Dream

What the report says

Gabby Williams scored 26 points to lead the Golden State Valkyries past the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday at Chase Center in San Francisco, according to Al Jazeera’s report based on AFP and The Associated Press. Williams also delivered four free throws in the final 78 seconds, helping Golden State recover from a late deficit and protect home court in the best-of-seven series.

Al Jazeera reported that Williams started slowly but erupted for 16 points in the second quarter. She said the Valkyries settled in after a tentative opening and relied on defense when the shots were not falling. Golden State did not have another player finish in double figures, but its late stops and Williams’ rebounding and foul shooting turned the game.

For Atlanta, Allisha Gray returned from a hand injury and scored 19 points, while Angel Reese finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Rhyne Howard added 12. The Dream struggled badly in the fourth quarter, making only two of 19 shots and scoring just eight points overall in the period. Reese said Atlanta did not do enough offensively and suggested the team needed a stronger approach in the next game.

Game 2 is set for Monday in San Francisco. Both teams are seeking their first WNBA championship, with Atlanta trying again after three previous Finals losses and Golden State aiming to cap a rapid rise after entering the league as an expansion team last year.