WNBA Finals Game 2 Preview: Valkyries Host the Dream Again Monday After a 68-64 Comeback Win Behind Williams' 26 Points
San Francisco — Game 2 of the WNBA Finals is set for Monday (October 19) at 5 p.m. PT at Chase Center in San Francisco, with the Golden State Valkyries leading the best-of-seven series 1-0 against the Atlanta Dream. The game will be shown on USA Network, CNBC and E!, and streamed on Peacock. One of the two franchises will capture its first championship.
In Game 1 on Saturday at Chase Center, the Valkyries won 68-64. Gabby Williams scored a game- high 26 points — 16 of them in the second quarter — put Golden State ahead with two free throws with 1:18 left, and sealed the win with two more with 4.1 seconds to go, as the Valkyries closed the game on a 7-0 run. Golden State shot just 32.1 percent but won the rebounding battle 41-35; Kaila Charles grabbed 10 rebounds off the bench and Kiah Stokes blocked four shots.
Atlanta carried a five-point lead into the fourth quarter but made only two field goals and scored eight points in the final period. Allisha Gray, returning from injury, scored 19 points, Angel Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Jordin Canada had eight points and seven assists; Atlanta's bench scored six points all night. The loss ended the Dream's 10-game winning streak. Atlanta, swept in all three of its previous Finals appearances, is now 0-10 all time in Finals games.
"We always knew we were going to find a way somehow," Williams said. She added that even when trailing late, the Valkyries believed the game was where they wanted it because it came down to getting stops: "That's been our bread and butter all season." Dream coach Karl Smesko said: "We were right there, right there. So that's why it hurts a little bit. But it also motivates us." (GSM, from Associated Press and other reports)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 旧金山大通中心（女武神主场）外景资料图（2019年摄，非本场比赛现场图）。图：Gregory Varnum，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 4.0（经 Commons API 实查）。Exterior file photo of Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Valkyries (taken 2019; not from this game). Photo: Gregory Varnum, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (verified via Commons API).
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