In a close, thrilling Game 1 to kick off the 2026 WNBA Finals, the Golden State Valkyries picked up a 68-64 victory over the Atlanta Dream after a late push. The win came largely on the back of star forward Gabby Williams, who scored a game-high 26 points to give the Valkyries their first-ever franchise Finals win.

With a one-point game going down to the final minutes, both teams had a chance to take the lead late in the game, but multiple potentially game-sealing 3-pointers fell short, keeping things tight until the last second.

Williams, whose knee got banged up late in the game, was then fouled with four seconds remaining. With the game on the line, Williams stepped up and nailed both free throws for a four-point lead, pulling the game out of the Dream's reach and cementing the victory.

Williams' heroics began much earlier in the matchup. After failing to score in the first quarter, Williams dropped 16 points in the second to pull Golden State out of a hole, and she was a big reason the Valkyries led at halftime.

Though the game was tight all the way through — the Dream's biggest lead was nine points, while the Valkyries never led by more than five — Atlanta appeared to be in control of the matchup in the third quarter. However, the Dream went quiet in the fourth, going two-of-18 from the field in the final frame. Allisha Gray, who led the team with 19 points after returning from a hand injury, did not score at all in the fourth quarter.

With the Dream and Valkyries boasting two of the best defenses in the league, defensive performance was set to be a major factor. Thanks to the coverage, both teams struggled to get looks, with both teams shooting around 32% from the field; Golden State went 7-of-33 from 3, while Atlanta was held to just 16% shooting from beyond the arc.

The game also had its physical moments, with multiple players going down in the fourth quarter after taking contact. Tiffany Hayes left the game in the final minutes after an awkward fall that left her clutching her face.

Turnovers also played a big role. While things started on relatively even footing, a run of late turnovers proved costly for the Dream, who allowed 17 points off 12 turnovers. The Valkyries ended with 10 blocks (five from Kiah Stokes) and seven steals.

For Atlanta, it's a disappointing start to the series. The loss breaks a 10-game win streak dating back to the late-season acquisition of veteran forward DeWanna Bonner, who ended with just two points off the bench on Saturday. It also continues an unfortunate streak for the Dream, who have yet to win a Finals game in the club's history; Atlanta was swept by the Seattle Storm in all three of its Finals appearances, the most recent in 2013.

Golden State's victory wasn't pretty, but it sets the tone for the rest of the series. Atlanta proved that it can challenge the Valkyries in the deafening halls of Ballhalla; Golden State proved that individual players can step up in game-changing ways.