Gabby Williams' Valkyries doomed by 'uncharacteristic' mistakes in WNBA Finals Game 2 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Golden State Valkyries' Ballhalla fortress has been breached.
For the first time in two months, the Valkyries on Monday night lost a home game at Chase Center. The Atlanta Dream took Game 2 of the WNBA Finals and tied up the series at a win apiece.
With the next two games in Atlanta's State Farm Arena, the Dream has a chance to take control of the series -- and the Valkyries have to erase "uncharacteristic" mistakes that defined their Game 2 defeat.
MORE: 'She had a completely different mindset': How Dream knew Angel Reese would dominate Game 2
"I genuinely believe that turnovers dictated the entire game," Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said Monday night. "They out-hustled us on some plays, they made more energy plays and that's what we hang our hats on."
Veronica Burton points to uncharacteristic turnovers, Atlanta’s hustle plays & a poor shooting night as factors in the loss: https://t.co/lf5wPMdtpf
— Jane Kenny (@janekennyy) October 20, 2026
Atlanta turned over Golden State 18 times in Game 2 and scored 24 points off of those changes in possession.
Led by the irrepressible Angel Reese, the Dream held the Valkyries to 28 second-half points in Game 2 -- which included a nine-point third quarter as Atlanta took control inside the cauldron of Chase Center.
Worse for theValkyries, star guard Gabby Williams struggled with her shot after scoring a game-high 26 points in Saturday's Game 1 victory.
Amid concern over a potential knee injury suffered late in Game 1, Williams missed 10 of her first 11 shots and labored to 14 points over 27 minutes -- shooting just 3-of-15 for the game.
Williams, the Valkyries' No.1 option on offense, did manage to get to the stripe seven times, and she posted a more than respectable 93 defensive rating.
But Golden State will need much more from the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up as the series shifts south. The Valkyries will need more from everybody: Golden State shot only 34 percent from the field, and Atlanta out-rebounded them.
"We shot terribly, we missed shots that we make all the time," Burton said. "That happens, and we've got to lock in on the defensive end and make it way more difficult. It's a series for a reason."
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