After trailing for nearly all of Game 1, the Golden State Valkyries mounted a late comeback to beat the Atlanta Dream 68-64 and defend home court at Ballhalla to take a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven championship series, Golden State’s first in franchise history.

Gabby Williams’ free throws with four seconds sealed it as Kiah Stokes and Kaila Charles had crucial rebounds of Atlanta’s missed 3-pointers down the stretch to clinch the win. Williams finished with 26 points to lead all scorers, including a historic outlay of 16 in the second quarter.

“We had the game right where we wanted it, because it just came down to getting stops,” Williams said. “That’s been our bread and butter all season. That’s why we harp on it so much because we’ve built great defensive habits for these moments.”

The Valkyries take on the Dream in Game 2 at the Chase Center on Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Golden State Valkyries celebrate winning against the Atlanta Dream during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries celebrate winning against the Atlanta Dream during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes (15) falls after chasing after the ball against Atlanta Dream's Allisha Gray (15) and Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (3) in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) falls after chasing after the ball against Atlanta Dream’s Allisha Gray (15) and Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada (3) in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams (1) is introduced before the tip-off of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals \against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) is introduced before the tip-off of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals \against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Atlanta Dream's Isobel Borlase (20) guards Golden State Valkyries' Kaitlyn Chen (2) in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Atlanta Dream’s Isobel Borlase (20) guards Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (2) in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries fans bang their thunder sticks in the second quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries fans bang their thunder sticks in the second quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes (15) and Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (3) chase the ball during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) and Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada (3) chase the ball during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries fans cheer in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries fans cheer in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Cecilia Zandalasini (24) passes the ball against Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (3) and Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese (5) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) passes the ball against Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada (3) and Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese (5) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr cheers for the Golden State Valkyries against the Atlanta Dream in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr cheers for the Golden State Valkyries against the Atlanta Dream in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes (15) battles Atlanta Dream's Angel Reese (5) for a rebound in the fourh quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-64. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) battles Atlanta Dream’s Angel Reese (5) for a rebound in the fourh quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-64. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' head coach Natalie Nakase stands on the sidelines against Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ head coach Natalie Nakase stands on the sidelines against Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Kaila Charles (6) takes a shot against Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard (10) in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) takes a shot against Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard (10) in the fourth quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries fans cheers in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries fans cheers in the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Kaitlyn Chen (2) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (3) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (2) dribbles the ball against Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada (3) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries fan Anna Koeckeritz, of Oakland, cheers as the Golden State Valkyries get closer to defeating the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries fan Anna Koeckeritz, of Oakland, cheers as the Golden State Valkyries get closer to defeating the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Kiah Stokes (41) gains a rebound against the Atlanta Dream in the first quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes (41) gains a rebound against the Atlanta Dream in the first quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Kerri Walsh blows a kiss to the crowd while the Golden State Valkyries play against the Atlanta Dream during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Kerri Walsh blows a kiss to the crowd while the Golden State Valkyries play against the Atlanta Dream during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams (1) drives with the ball against Atlanta Dream's Jordin Canada (3) and Atlanta Dream's Naz Hillmon (00) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) drives with the ball against Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada (3) and Atlanta Dream’s Naz Hillmon (00) in the third quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) 
A Golden State Valkyries fan cheers as the Golden State Valkyries get closer to defeating the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)A Golden State Valkyries fan cheers as the Golden State Valkyries get closer to defeating the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams (1) passes the ball against Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard (10) in the XX quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) passes the ball against Atlanta Dream’s Rhyne Howard (10) in the XX quarter during game 1 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)