Williams scores 26 as Valkyries edge Dream in WNBA Finals opener

Golden State beat Atlanta 68-64 at Chase Center on Saturday to take a 1-0 lead in the WNBA Finals. Gabby Williams scored 26 points, with her late free throws deciding the opener, according to Janie McCauley's Associated Press report carried by ABC7. Both franchises are seeking their first championship.

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Williams supplied 16 points in the second quarter and was Golden State's only double-figure scorer. The Valkyries made 32.1% of their field-goal attempts and seven of 33 three-pointers. Atlanta's Allisha Gray scored 19 points on her return from injury, while Angel Reese contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Atlanta still had opportunities late. Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon and Gray missed three-point attempts in the closing stages. Williams put Golden State ahead from the foul line with 1:18 remaining, then made two more free throws with 4.1 seconds left. The home side survived despite its shooting difficulties.

The result ended Atlanta's unbeaten start to the postseason. The playoff results listed by Plain Text Sports show the fourth-seeded Dream had won five straight games before the Finals: two against Washington in the opening round and three against New York in the semifinals. Their last two wins over the Liberty were particularly close, 101-98 in overtime and 85-83, completing the sweep on October 9.

Second-seeded Golden State also advanced through a semifinal sweep, beating Las Vegas 71-60 and 83-81 before finishing that series with an 87-77 overtime victory on the road. Its opening-round series against Dallas had gone to a deciding third game. After splitting the first two meetings, the Valkyries won that decider 77-73, then went unbeaten through the next round to reach the championship series. Both finalists therefore arrived in San Francisco after completing their semifinals on the same day.

Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, October 19, with Atlanta again visiting Golden State. The best-of-seven format leaves the Dream time to respond, but the opener has put them behind in a series for the first time during this postseason.