Game 1 was a physical thriller, coming down to an Allisha Gray airballed 3-pointer with a chance.
Gabby Williams ran on a gimpy knee in the final minutes following a collision at the free throw line, but she drained six free throws to clinch the Golden State Valkyries' 68-64 win over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Valkyries 68, Dream 64
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATLANTA | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Hillmon | 29:47 | 2-4 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Howard | 38:03 | 3-14 | 4-4 | 0-7 | 4 | 5 | 12 |
| Reese | 34:52 | 5-11 | 4-7 | 5-12 | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| Canada | 38:18 | 3-9 | 2-2 | 0-5 | 7 | 3 | 8 |
| Gray | 33:09 | 5-19 | 8-8 | 1-6 | 2 | 0 | 19 |
| Bonner | 13:25 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Borlase | 12:26 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Okot | 0:01 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 200:00 | 21-64 | 18-21 | 7-35 | 15 | 14 | 64 |
Percentages: FG .328, FT .857.
3-Point Goals: 4-25, .160 (Howard 2-9, Hillmon 1-3, Gray 1-8, Bonner 0-1, Canada 0-1, Reese 0-1, Borlase 0-2).
Team Rebounds: 12. Team Turnovers: None.
Blocked Shots: 5 (Howard 2, Borlase, Hillmon, Reese).
Turnovers: 12 (Reese 4, Canada 3, Howard 3, Gray, Hillmon).
Steals: 5 (Canada 2, Reese 2, Howard).
Technical Fouls: None.
| FG | FT | Reb | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GOLDEN STATE | Min | M-A | M-A | O-T | A | PF | PTS |
| Thornton | 7:10 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Zandalasini | 21:39 | 3-10 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Stokes | 24:48 | 4-7 | 1-2 | 3-7 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Burton | 29:41 | 2-7 | 1-1 | 1-4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Williams | 33:21 | 8-22 | 7-8 | 1-4 | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Charles | 30:16 | 3-10 | 0-0 | 3-10 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Hayes | 23:53 | 1-12 | 0-0 | 1-6 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Amihere | 14:12 | 2-2 | 1-2 | 1-5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Chen | 10:19 | 2-5 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Salaun | 4:42 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 200:00 | 25-78 | 11-16 | 12-41 | 15 | 13 | 68 |
Percentages: FG .321, FT .688.
3-Point Goals: 7-33, .212 (Williams 3-11, Chen 1-2, Charles 1-4, Hayes 1-5, Zandalasini 1-5, Salaun 0-1, Stokes 0-1, Burton 0-2, Thornton 0-2).
Team Rebounds: 16. Team Turnovers: 2.
Blocked Shots: 10 (Stokes 4, Burton 2, Amihere, Charles, Hayes, Zandalasini).
Turnovers: 8 (Burton 2, Williams 2, Zandalasini 2, Charles, Hayes).
Steals: 7 (Charles 2, Amihere, Burton, Hayes, Williams, Zandalasini).
Technical Fouls: None.
| Atlanta | 22 | 17 | 17 | 8 | - | 64 |
| Golden State | 14 | 28 | 9 | 17 | - | 68 |
A: 18,064 (18,064).
Angel Reese had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Williams took over when the team needed her most, going 8-for-22 from the field for a game-high 26 points.
Game 2 in the series will be Monday night at Chase Center.
Williams put together a magical one-minute stretch as the first half wound down, giving the Valkyries a three-point lead at the break that the team's defense might not have fully deserved.
It started with Tiffany Hayes' steal with just under two minutes left, leading to a Williams 3-pointer that filled the arena with a deafening cheer and gave Golden State its first lead since early in the first quarter. Soon after, Williams forced a Jordin Canada turnover and hit the running layup, and somehow the crowd had a louder cheer in them.
It was just the type of disruptive defense the Valkyrie needed much more of in the first half. The Dream created the desired pace and spacing to keep the defense off balance.
Kiah Stokes' presence became paramount against Atlanta's Reese, who took advantage of mismatches against Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaun, among others. Reese scored 14 first-half points and got to the line for seven free throws to push the Dream's lead until the late Williams push.
Head coach Natalie Nakase tapped forward Laeticia Amihere - hardly used in any of the first two series - to counter Reese's size and agility when Stokes needed a breather.
The Valkyries were committing unnecessary fouls and the Dream went to the line 13 times (making 10) compared to Golden State's five. Allisha Gray went to the line eight times in the first half, the Valkyries committing late-clock fouls to get her off the hook.
The Valkyries adjusted in the second half, forcing five turnovers in the third quarter to keep the lead twice. But the Dream had an answer each time with tough shot making, primarily from Gray.
Golden State's defense fuels its offense, and the shooting wasn't up to snuff. The Valkyries shot below 35% from the field and hovered around 20% from 3-point range by the end.
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Valkyries prove tough enough, top Dream in Game 1 of WNBA Finals.