Valkyries Hold Off Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of WNBA Finals Behind Gabby Williams' 26 Points
San Francisco — The No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries ground out a 68-64 victory over the No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center on Saturday, October 17, USA Today reported, holding serve at home to open the series.
Golden State shot just 32% from the field but got 20 points from its bench, against six for Atlanta's reserves. Gabby Williams led all scorers with 26 points. Held scoreless in the first quarter on 0-of-4 shooting, Williams scored 16 points in the second quarter alone — a career high for a single quarter and, according to USA Today, tied for the third-most points in a quarter in WNBA Finals history — as the Valkyries took a 42-39 halftime lead.
Atlanta had three players in double figures, with Angel Reese recording 14 points and 12 rebounds and Allisha Gray scoring 19 points through three quarters. The Dream led 56-51 after the third quarter but scored just eight points in the fourth, shooting 2-of-20 from the field and 0-of-7 from three-point range in the final period.
"We always know we're going to find a way somehow," Williams said. "There was a lid on that basket tonight, but that's why we rely on our defense." Dream coach Karl Smesko said: "We're gonna look at everything, we're gonna watch and try to get better. We were right there, right there. That's why it hurts a little bit, but it also motivates us."
Game 2 of the Finals is scheduled for Monday, October 19 at Chase Center.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：旧金山大通中心（Chase Center），WNBA总决赛第一场在此举行。照片：Wikimedia Commons。Chase Center in San Francisco, venue of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
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