Gabby Williams Scores 26 as Valkyries Edge Dream in Finals Opener

Gabby Williams was the decisive figure as the Golden State Valkyries took the first game of the WNBA Finals, holding off the Atlanta Dream 68-64.

Williams finished with 26 points, and her most important work came at the free-throw line late in the game. She made two free throws with 1:18 remaining to put Golden State ahead, then added two more with just 4.1 seconds on the clock to put the game out of reach.

It was a tight contest, and the cushion Williams built from the stripe gave the Valkyries the margin they needed to close it out. Atlanta could not break through in the final stretch.

Golden State now has a head start in the series, while the Dream will need to respond in the next game to get back into the Finals.