SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Atlanta Dream let a fourth-quarter edge slip away Saturday and lost Game 1 of the WNBA Finals 68-64 to the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, as Golden State closed the game with seven straight points.
Gabby Williams did most of the damage for the Valkyries. She was held without a basket in the first quarter, then poured in 16 points in the second, and she finished with a game-high 26, including six of the final seven points from the free-throw line.
Atlanta came out strong. Angel Reese scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the opening quarter and the Dream led by eight after one, but Reese did not make another field goal the rest of the way and finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 19 points, though Golden State held her to 5-of-19 shooting, and Rhyne Howard scored 12 on 3-of-14. The Valkyries also won the rebounding battle, 41-35.
The stakes are historic on both sides. Whoever wins the best-of-seven series will be a first-time champion. This is Atlanta’s first Finals trip since 2013, and the Dream lost in all three of their earlier appearances, and Golden State, in only its second season, is trying to become the fastest expansion team to win a title.
Game 2 is Monday at Chase Center. The series then comes to Atlanta, where the Dream will play Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena, the 17,000-seat home of the Hawks, rather than the 3,500-seat Gateway Center Arena they normally use. The team plans to open the upper bowl for the Finals.
Section: More Atlanta GA sports news
Atlanta sports business profiles
Filed under: Atlanta GA Sports News
