Valkyries Edge Dream in Game 1 of WNBA Finals as Gray Returns From Injury

Gabby Williams scored 26 points and sealed a tight, defense-driven opener on Saturday, as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco.

Williams made two free throws with 1:18 remaining to put Golden State in front and added two more with 4.1 seconds left to close it out. She scored 16 of her points in the second quarter. No other Valkyries player reached double figures, and the team shot 32.1% from the field and went 7 of 33 from 3-point range.

"We always knew we were going to find a way somehow," Williams said on the microphone after the game, as fans chanted "Gabby! Gabby!"

Atlanta had chances late. Rhyne Howard missed a 3-point attempt with 1:09 to play, but Angel Reese came up with a steal moments afterward. Naz Hillmon then missed from deep, and Kiah Stokes missed the first of two free throws with 23.8 seconds left. Allisha Gray's 3-point try with 9 seconds remaining also failed, setting up Williams' final free throws.

Gray was back in the starting lineup after missing the last two games of Atlanta's sweep of the New York Liberty in the best-of-three semifinal series because of an injured left ring finger on her shooting hand. She had gone through a light practice on Friday and finished with 19 points. Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds. Jordin Canada contributed eight points, seven assists and five rebounds, including a timely 13-foot jumper with 4:23 left.

Williams' driving layup with 3:22 remaining had cut Golden State's deficit to 62-61. During her late free throws, Canada banged awkwardly into Williams' knee on a box out, and the Valkyries star was being attended to by an athletic trainer on the bench in the closing moments.

Golden State guard Tiffany Hayes hit her face hard on the floor while trying for a steal in the final minutes and stayed down with 2:38 left. She walked off the court on her own to the locker room.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center, where the piercing noise from a raucous "Ballhalla" crowd created the hostile environment Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase had asked the home fans to provide.

One of the two franchises will win its first championship, and if the opener is any indication, the series is shaping up as an all-out defensive fight.