Sports
Gabby Williams’ late free throws lift Valkyries past Dream in Finals opener
Gabby Williams scored 26 points and sealed a 68-64 Golden State win over Atlanta in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center. The Valkyries overcame a cold shooting night in a defense-heavy matchup to take the lead in the best-of-seven series.
SAN FRANCISCO — Gabby Williams scored 26 points, including four clutch free throws in the final 1:18, as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-64 on Saturday at Chase Center to open the WNBA Finals.
Williams put the Valkyries ahead from the line with 1:18 remaining, then made two more free throws with 4.1 seconds left to secure the win. She scored 16 points in the second quarter, and no other Golden State player reached double figures.
The Valkyries shot just 32.1% from the field and made 7 of 33 attempts from 3-point range, but held Atlanta to 64 points in a game marked by pressure defense and missed chances late. “We always knew we were going to find a way somehow,” Williams told the crowd after the game, as fans chanted her name.
Atlanta had several opportunities to take control in the closing minutes. Rhyne Howard missed a 3-pointer with 1:09 to go, and after Angel Reese came up with a steal, Naz Hillmon missed from long range. Kiah Stokes made one of two free throws with 23.8 seconds left, while Allisha Gray’s 3-point attempt with nine seconds remaining also missed.
Gray led the Dream with 19 points after returning to the starting lineup. She had missed Atlanta’s final two games in its semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty because of an injured left ring finger on her shooting hand. Reese finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jordin Canada added eight points, seven assists and five rebounds, including a timely jumper with 4:23 to play.
Williams’ driving layup with 3:22 remaining brought Golden State within 62-61 before her free throws swung the game. She was attended to by an athletic trainer late after Canada collided with her knee during a rebound, according to the game account. Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes also left the floor after hitting her face while trying to make a steal; she walked to the locker room under her own power.
The raucous Chase Center crowd, known as “Ballhalla,” provided the home-court atmosphere Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase had sought. Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Monday night at Chase Center.
The series pits two franchises seeking their first WNBA championship. Game 1’s low score and late defensive stands offered an early sign that the title matchup could be a close, physical contest.