Dream Drop WNBA Finals Opener as Valkyries Rally Late for 68-64 Victory

The Atlanta Dream’s long-awaited return to the WNBA Finals began with a tough lesson Saturday afternoon as the Golden State Valkyries rallied in the closing minutes to secure a 68-64 victory at Chase Center.

Atlanta carried a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter but couldn’t hold on, surrendering the game’s final seven points as Golden State claimed its first Finals victory in franchise history and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship series.

The loss snapped Atlanta’s undefeated postseason run and ended a 10-game winning streak, leaving the Dream looking to regroup before Monday’s Game 2.

Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 19 points, six rebounds and two assists, connecting on all eight of her free-throw attempts. Angel Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds in her WNBA Finals debut, becoming the youngest center in league history to record a double-double in her first championship game.

Reese made her presence felt immediately, scoring 11 points in the opening quarter to establish a new postseason career high for points in a period. Her early production helped Atlanta answer a Golden State run with 11 consecutive points to close the quarter.

The Dream’s momentum proved difficult to maintain, however, as Gabby Williams took over offensively for the Valkyries.

Williams scored 16 of her game-high 26 points in the second quarter, setting a personal record for points in a period. Her 26-point performance also tied for the fourth-most points in a WNBA Finals debut.

Neither team found much consistency offensively in a physical matchup dominated by defense. Atlanta and Golden State combined to shoot just 32.4 percent from the field and 19 percent from three-point range, producing the second-lowest combined field-goal percentage in Finals history.

The difference came down to execution and contributions beyond the starting lineups.

Golden State’s bench outscored Atlanta’s reserves 20-6, while the Valkyries converted 12 Dream turnovers into 17 points. Atlanta managed only eight points off Golden State’s 10 turnovers.

Those missed opportunities became increasingly important as the game tightened.

The Dream used an 8-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters to build a seven-point advantage, but Golden State continued to battle back. Atlanta still led 64-61 late in regulation before the Valkyries closed the game on a decisive 7-0 run.

For a Dream team that has relied on defensive intensity and timely scoring throughout its playoff run, the final stretch highlighted the importance of finishing possessions and maintaining offensive composure under pressure.

Despite the disappointing outcome, Reese continued to make postseason history. In addition to tying her playoff career highs with 12 rebounds and five offensive boards, she became tied for the fewest games needed to reach 100 points, 10 steals and 10 blocks in a single postseason, accomplishing the feat in just six games.

Her performance, along with Gray’s offensive leadership, provided encouraging signs for Atlanta as the team prepares to respond.

The Dream will also look for more production from their supporting cast after Golden State received valuable contributions from its reserves, including Kaila Charles, who collected 10 rebounds off the bench.

While dropping the opening game creates an early challenge, Atlanta has an opportunity to make adjustments before the series shifts home.

The Dream are making their fourth Finals appearance in franchise history and their first since 2013, with hopes of capturing the organization’s first WNBA championship.

One loss doesn’t erase the work that brought Atlanta to this stage, but it does raise the stakes for what comes next.

Next up: The Dream will face the Valkyries in Game 2 on Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET at Chase Center in San Francisco. The championship series then moves to State Farm Arena for Game 3 on Wednesday, October 21, and Game 4 on Saturday, October 24.

Atlanta’s championship pursuit is far from over, but the message heading into Game 2 is clear: the Dream must turn a missed opportunity into a stronger finish.

The road to a championship is rarely easy, and now Atlanta has its first chance to show how it responds!