Golden State Takes WNBA Finals Opener 68-64 as Gabby Williams Leads Comeback Against Angel Reese and Atlanta
The Valkyries made a defensive stand in the fourth quarter, turning a five-point deficit entering the period into the first Finals victory in franchise history.
CHICAGO — The 2026 WNBA Finals opened with a result that connected the league's newest championship contender to a familiar Chicago basketball storyline. Golden State defeated Atlanta 68-64 on Saturday at Chase Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series behind 26 points from Gabby Williams. The Dream, featuring former Chicago Sky star Angel Reese, led for substantial stretches but managed only eight points in the fourth quarter as the Valkyries closed out the first Finals game in franchise history.
The final score suggests a close contest. The quarter-by-quarter movement explains why it was considerably more dramatic. Atlanta led 22-14 after the first period, Golden State rallied to lead 42-39 at halftime, and the Dream regained the advantage before the last quarter. Neither club maintained control for long. By the end, the team that had appeared more comfortable early was fighting to produce a field goal while Golden State created enough offense to move in front.
Williams was the difference across those shifting stretches. After going scoreless in the first quarter, she scored 16 points in the second quarter, providing the burst that erased Atlanta's early advantage, and finished with a game-high 26. Her scoring mattered not only because it produced a large share of Golden State's points but because it arrived when the Valkyries were struggling to establish rhythm. Rather than asking the entire lineup to solve the problem immediately, Golden State found a dependable source of offense and eventually built its comeback around that production.
Atlanta had its own strong first-half response from Reese. The forward scored 14 points in the game and pulled down 12 rebounds for a double-double. Her activity helped set a physical tone, particularly during the Dream's opening surge. Allisha Gray finished with 19 points to lead Atlanta in scoring. Those individual efforts positioned the Dream to win a difficult road opener, but they could not overcome a final period in which the team's offense largely disappeared.
The fourth-quarter numbers were decisive. Atlanta scored only eight points over the final 10 minutes and made two of 19 field-goal attempts during the period, according to contemporary game reporting. Golden State scored 17 in the quarter. That nine-point difference overturned Atlanta's 56-51 lead and produced a four-point victory. In a playoff series where every possession can alter momentum, the collapse highlighted how quickly one poor offensive stretch can undo three competitive quarters.
Golden State's defensive work was not limited to Williams. Veteran center Kiah Stokes contributed nine points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots, providing rim protection in a game where interior stops were particularly valuable. Kaila Charles collected 10 rebounds, helping the Valkyries compete on the glass against a Dream team built around physical rebounding. Those contributions made it harder for Atlanta to create a simple second-chance answer when perimeter shots stopped falling.
For Golden State, the victory carries unusually significant franchise weight. The Valkyries joined the WNBA in 2025 and reached the Finals in their second season. Saturday was the organization's first championship-round game and first Finals victory. That does not guarantee the direction of the series, but it changes the burden of proof. Golden State demonstrated it can absorb a difficult start, weather multiple lead changes and close a high-pressure game against another team seeking its first title.
Atlanta has ample time to respond. One loss in a seven-game series does not erase the Dream's path to the Finals or the success of its core. What it does reveal is the need for a fourth-quarter solution. The Dream received early points from Reese, sufficient production from Gray and enough stops to remain ahead late. They still lost because the final possessions became difficult. Atlanta must find a way to sustain quality attempts when Golden State takes away its first option and the defense becomes more physical.
Chicago's connection to the matchup gives the story added relevance locally. Williams is a former Sky player, while Reese began her WNBA career in Chicago before moving to Atlanta. The Finals therefore feature two recognizable figures whose professional paths run through the city, even though the Sky are not competing for this championship. Their performances offer a measure of how talent associated with Chicago continues to influence the wider league.
There is also a larger story about women's basketball behind this matchup. Both finalists are seeking their first WNBA championship. Golden State is competing for the trophy almost immediately after joining the league; Atlanta is trying to finish a season in which it has established itself as a leading contender. Neither team can rely on an existing championship tradition to make the moment feel routine. Every game in this series will establish something new about the winning club's identity.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday, October 19, at 7 p.m. Central in San Francisco. Golden State will have another opportunity to capitalize on its home court, while Atlanta will attempt to prevent a 2-0 deficit before the series moves east. The opening game made clear that rebounding, physical defense and late-clock execution will matter as much as any individual scoring run.
For now, Golden State owns the first advantage. Williams supplied the scoring, the Valkyries supplied the fourth-quarter resistance and Atlanta was left to solve the problem that decided the game: how to generate offense when the Finals get tight.
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