The 2026 WNBA Finals were billed as a clash of defensive titans, and for good reason. The Golden State Valkyries led the 15-team league in defensive rating this year, while the Atlanta Dream ranked third, while the two teams accounted for six of the 10 All-Defense selections.
So it was clear that we were in for a defensive slugfest. And a defensive slugfest it most certainly was. And while the home team, competing in the Finals in just their second year since joining the league as an expansion franchise,
stood tallest after 40 minutes, winning 68-64 in a game where the two teams combined to shoot just 32.4% from the field. If you loved defense, this was a game worth nerding out over.
If you weren’t familiar with the Dream going into the series, well … you became familiar with them very quickly. For all the hype surrounding the Valkyries entering the Finals, following their sweep of the defending-champion Las Vegas Aces, the Dream arguably headed into the matchup with even more momentum. Spanning five regular season and five postseason games, the Dream entered Saturday on a 10-game winning streak, with seven of those games being decided by double digits. They were, for all of Golden State’s magic in the semifinals, the hottest team in the WNBA.
And they made that immediately apparent. Allisha Gray scored on the first possession of the game, and for as good as Golden State’s defense was, Atlanta’s was even better. Eventually they started to figure things out on offense as well and, with buckets coming from defense and from a high-paced affair, Atlanta led 11-5 after four minutes. It was abundantly clear to everyone at the Chase Center that this would be neither an easy game nor an easy series.
But the Valkyries responded to that opening punch from the Dream, and quickly put the defensive clamps on, while starting to figure out things of their own on offense. As Golden State started to string together successful possessions, Ballhalla came alive, eventually erupting when Kaitlyn Chen banked in a three to cap a 9-0 run that gave the Valks a 14-11 lead, their first of the game. Golden State’s defense was as advertised during the run, as they forced Atlanta into six consecutive missed shots.
It was a game of runs and responses, though, and Atlanta was fully unfazed by the loudness of the arena and the run rattled off by their opponent. In the biggest games the best players take over, and Angel Reese — who finished seventh in MVP voting this year, while taking home Defensive Player of the Year honors — did exactly that. The third-year forward thoroughly took over on both ends of the court, dominating in every way as the Dream ended the quarter on an 11-0 spurt, taking a 22-14 lead and all the momentum into the second quarter.
From there, Atlanta stayed in control for a while, while the Valkyries were simply trying to stay within reach. But as I mentioned, the best players show up for the biggest games, and eventually it was Gabby Williams’ turn to answer that call. The Valkyries’ All-Star put the team on her back after the first few possessions of the quarter. Despite being held scoreless in the first quarter, she exploded for nine points in the first three-and-a-half minutes of the second. As Atlanta’s defense converged on Williams, she passed the baton to Cecilia Zandalasini, who scored five quick points to cap a 10-3 run, as Golden State pulled back to within two points.
After another Atlanta response, Golden State finally got over the hump. With Williams taking over on both sides of the court, the Valkyries tied the game, and then took their first lead since 14-13. The run was punctuated by a brilliant sequence: Tiffany Hayes stole the ball at halfcourt and found Williams for a go-ahead three, and then Williams stripped Jordin Canada on the ensuing possession, and took it the length of the court for a layup, putting the exclamation point on a 10-0 run.
In all, Williams had a stunning 16 points in the second quarter alone, as Golden State took a 42-39 advantage to the locker room. True to the team’s identity, head coach Natalie Nakase used the live halftime interview to call her team’s defense “awful,” before angrily heading into the break.
It seems as though Atlanta’s head coach, Karl Smesko, had the same message for his squad. Because if the first half was defined by defense, the second half was buried in it. I’d say you’ll have to wait a long time to see a half of basketball with as good of defense, but with at least three — and up to six — more games left in this series, you may not have to wait long at all!
The Dream scored the first five points of the third quarter, at which point the game became outrageously physical. It was chippy, it was aggressive, and it was at times violent. The third quarter alone surely resulted in a lot of ice packs in the post-game locker rooms.
And while Golden State was game for the physicality, they were done in by the Dream’s defense. Just watching the Valkyries try to score was exhausting; that was how hard they had to work for every shot attempt. Needless to say, the looks weren’t good, and neither were the results. After six minutes Atlanta had scored 11 points … and held Golden State to just two.
Basketball is a game of runs and momentum shifts, and the Valks saved all of their offense in the quarter for one brief moment. Inside of the four minute mark, Laeticia Amihere made a pair of layups sandwiching a Kaila Charles three. In a span of 42 seconds, Golden State had scored seven points, retaken the lead, and sent life through Ballhalla; in the other nine-plus minutes of the quarter, they would score just two points total.
But it was Atlanta’s quarter up to that surge, and and it was Atlanta’s quarter after it. The Dream responded in kind, scoring the final six points of the quarter to take a 56-51 lead into the fourth, then added to it by scoring on the first possession of the fourth quarter. After holding Golden State to nine fourth-quarter points, Atlanta led by seven in the final frame, and with that they felt in control.
Yet no sooner had that happened than the momentum shifted. Naz Hillmon was whistled for a reckless closeout on a three, giving the Valkyries three free throws and the ball. And while Zandalasini only made one of the free throws, Hayes capped off a four-point possession with a deep three. Just like that, Golden State was right back in the game.
What followed was one of the best and most intense defensive quarters I’ve ever witnessed. And, fittingly, the bodies were hitting the floor left and right, with each team getting banged up (Kayla Thornton left the game with about 2:30 remaining, while Williams was hobbling around for the final minutes of the game). It felt like the Valkyries were getting close to breaking through on offense, but every time they just couldn’t quite get there.
But as they’ve done so many times this postseason, Golden State saved their best execution for the final minutes. With 2:15 remaining and down three, Williams forced the issue and earned a trip to the free throw line, where she made both shots to pull the Valks within a point. A Zandalasini steal gave Golden State a chance to take the lead, but they were unable to score.
Their defense was truly humming now, and on the other end they forced Gray into a wild circus shot that missed everything. Williams grabbed the rebound and tried to push, but was immediately fouled. She again converted both free throws, and this time it gave Golden State the lead with 1:18 remaining.
After getting yet another stop, the Valkyries turned the ball over, leaving the door open for the Dream. But Golden State’s defense was firing on all cylinders, and Atlanta had no answer. Despite getting the ball back with 46 seconds, the Dream were unable to play for the two-for-one. They ultimately settled for a three by Hillmon (just a 31.1% shooter from deep for her career), which missed, and the Valkyries got the ball back with the shot clock turned off, leading by a point.
Kiah Stokes left the door open, though, as she split her free throws, and Atlanta got the ball back with more than 20 seconds remaining, trailing by just two. But it was a chaotic offensive possession, with the Dream nearly losing the ball, before Gray chucked up a desperation deep three, which missed badly. Golden State easily corralled the rebound, and Williams was fouled with 4.1 seconds remaining, with a chance to ice the game.
The first free throw critically made it a three-point game, and the second free throw clinched the game, giving the Valkyries their first ever Finals win (the Dream, who were swept in the 2010, 2011, and 2013 Finals, are also still looking for their first Finals win).
Williams led the Valkyries with 26 points, and was their only double-figure scorer. It didn’t come easily for her — or for anyone in this game — as she shot 8-for-22 from the field, but her baskets were clutch, and she led both teams in plus/minus, which accurately reflected her impact. In the 33 minutes when Williams was on the court, the Valkyries outscored the Dream by 16 points. In the seven minutes where she sat, they were outscored by 12.
But the story of the game was not one player, but the team defense. Nakase challenged her players to be better after giving up 39 first-half points, and my word did they ever respond. In the decisive fourth quarter, Golden State allowed just eight points, and held Atlanta scoreless over the final three minutes. The Dream, visibly frustrated at the defensive effort in front of them, shot just 2-for-19 from the field in the final quarter, as the Valkyries overcome a seven-point deficit and sent their fans home happy.
It sure looks like it will be a long series, though. The Valkyries lead the best-of-seven series 1-0, and will return to Ballhalla in San Francisco on Monday night, for a 5:00 p.m. PT game that will be broadcast on Peacock, USA Network, E!, and CNBC. After that, the series will head to Georgia for Games 3 and 4.
