Valkyries defeat Dream 68-64 in WNBA Finals Game 1 as Gray cleared to play

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points while Atlanta’s Allisha Gray returned from a finger injury.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:17:23 GMT

Golden State Valkyries edged the Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Saturday at the Chase Center, according to Bleacher Report. The win came after Dream coach Karl Smesko said forward Allisha Gray was cleared to play after missing most of the semifinal series with a finger injury, as reported by the Winnipeg Free Press.

What happened

The Valkyries built a 22-14 lead early, but Atlanta responded with an 11-0 run to finish the first quarter 22-14. Gabby Williams scored a game‑high 26 points, 16 of them in the second quarter, as the Valkyries outscored the Dream 28-17 to take a halftime lead. In the third quarter the Dream, led by Allisha Gray’s six points and an assist, outscored Golden State 17-9. The Valkyries reclaimed momentum in the fourth, outscoring Atlanta 17-8 in the final ten minutes, including a decisive 7‑0 free‑throw run, to secure the 68-64 victory.

What the reports add

Bleacher Report noted that Angel Reese accounted for half of Atlanta’s points on an efficient 5‑of‑6 shooting clip and highlighted the alternating dominant quarters pattern.
The Winnipeg Free Press quoted Smesko saying Gray would “go through the workout today” and that he did not expect any restrictions if she cleared, adding that the Dream’s star averages 19 points per game and 3.1 three‑pointers per game in the regular season.
Both outlets confirmed the decisive 7‑0 run in the final 2:15 was entirely from free throws.

What was said

“She’s going to go through the workout today. Everything’s trending in the right direction,” coach Karl Smesko told the Associated Press, as cited by the Winnipeg Free Press.

“It’s a hand injury, so if she can go I don’t expect there to be anything (limiting) other than if she has trouble with it during the game,” Smesko added.

“We do understand how loud it is here and how supportive their fans are and what a great atmosphere and environment they’ve provided the W,” Smesko said of the Chase Center crowd.

“We understand that Ballhalla’s going to be rocking,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said, challenging the fans to do their own game‑planning for Game 1.

How it came about

The Finals opener follows the Valkyries’ rapid rise documented in Felo News’ earlier coverage of their season, including the announcement of the matchup on Oct. 17 and the preview of the series on Oct. 10. Atlanta’s path to the Finals was detailed in Felo’s report on their semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty on Oct. 8. Angel Reese’s record‑setting season, noted in Felo’s September stories, also set the stage for the Dream’s offensive firepower.

Key facts

Golden State Valkyries defeated Atlanta Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals. (bleacherreport.com)
Gabby Williams scored 26 points, 16 in the second quarter. (bleacherreport.com)
Allisha Gray was cleared to play after a finger injury, according to coach Karl Smesko. (winnipegfreepress.com)