The Golden State Valkyries pulled off a gritty 68-64 Game 1 win over the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center on Saturday, but the buzz wasn’t all about the victory. Star Gabby Williams, who torched the Dream for a game-high 26 points, including 16 in the second quarter, went down hard late in the fourth quarter after a collision, leaving everyone wondering about her status for the rest of this WNBA Finals series. It’s a huge win in a raucous Ballhalla, but the concern around Williams is undeniable.
A Collision That Sent Shivers Through Golden State
This whole thing went down with just 2:15 left in the fourth quarter. Williams had just sunk a pair of free throws when Dream guard Jordin Canada boxed her out hard, sending Williams sprawling to the court. She got up gingerly, immediately massaging her left knee, and it was clear she was in visible pain over the next couple of possessions. The Defensive Player of the Year runner-up even needed treatment on the Valkyries bench during a timeout. You could see the discomfort, and honestly, it made everyone’s stomach drop. Even though Williams incredibly walked off the pain enough to drain two more free throws with 4.1 seconds left to seal the win, her health is now front and center. It’s “highly unlikely” she’ll miss any time, which is a relief, but if she’s hampered even a little bit, the hit to Golden State’s offense could be significant.
Defense Wins Championships, And This D Is Finals-Ready
Here’s the wild part, and why this Valkyries squad is so good: they just won a Finals game where their offense basically vanished in the second half. They scored a measly 26 points in the final two quarters, yet still came out on top! That tells you everything you need to know about their greatest strength: team defense. The Valkyries completely locked down Atlanta, holding them to a dismal 32.1 percent shooting from the field. And talk about clutch: they erased a five-point deficit going into the fourth quarter by holding the Dream to just two made field goals in the entire final 10 minutes. That’s absolutely stifling. Whether Williams is 100 percent or not, this defense is built to last, and it’s the reason they’re up 1-0.
So, what’s next? The Valkyries are back on the court Monday night, looking to go up 2-0 in the series. All eyes will be on Gabby Williams as she steps out for Game 2. Let’s hope that knee is feeling good, because this series is just getting started!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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