The Golden State Valkyries pulled off a 68-64 comeback win against the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals, and honestly, you won’t believe how they did it: they shot a pathetic 32.1% from the field. Seriously, that’s the third-worst field goal percentage ever for a team winning a Finals game in league history. Owner Joe Lacob wasn’t wrong when he admitted, “We didn’t play well.” But a win’s a win, especially when it’s this wild.
Ugly Wins Are Still Wins, And This Was UGLY
You read that right. The Valkyries were trailing right from the jump, fell behind by nine points early on, and even trailed by seven in the fourth quarter. They led for barely six minutes and four seconds the entire game. By every objective measure, their offense was a disaster. But here’s the kicker: they still won. Gabby Williams summed it up perfectly, “Whatever happens, this team is gonna find a way.” And find a way they did, leaning hard on their incredible depth, lockdown defense, and that absolutely deafening home-court advantage at Ballhalla. That place is a whole different beast. From the Norse warrior hype video to the player intros calling out “the first five” instead of starters, it sets a tone. Even Steve Kerr, the legend himself, was there watching.
“Strength in Numbers” Isn’t Just a Motto, It’s the Whole Damn Team
Coach Natalie Nakase isn’t just spitting out platitudes when she talks about “strength in numbers,” echoing that Warriors championship mantra. She put it into action big time in Game 1, rolling out a deep 10-player rotation. That’s a lineup depth many teams don’t even touch during the regular season, let alone in the Finals. Only two Valkyries players clocked 30 minutes. The star of that bench mob? Kaila Charles. She came in and emptied the tank, putting up seven points, a team-high 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. She hit a monster three-pointer late in the third, then followed it up with an even bigger steal and layup in the fourth to stop a two-minute scoring drought. It felt like destiny when she grabbed the game-sealing rebound as the clock ran out. Nakase was all praise: “Her engine was on full throttle tonight,” and “Her fight was unmatched tonight. She’s exactly what we needed.” And don’t forget Laeticia Amihere, who only had six minutes of postseason play before Game 1, but checked in with 4:36 left in the second quarter with one job: shut down Angel Reese, who already had 14 points. Talk about trusting your bench!
This isn’t just a Game 1 win, it’s a massive statement. The Valkyries showed the Dream they don’t even need their A-game offensively to take a lead in this series. Game 2 is coming up, and you can bet the Dream are going to be rethinking everything after watching a team win a Finals game shooting just 32.1%. The pressure is on Atlanta to figure out how to stop this unconventional juggernaut, because if the Valkyries can win like this, imagine what happens when their shots actually fall.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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