"Valkyries game" is trending because the Golden State Valkyries won Game 1 of the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream, 68–64, on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco. It was the franchise's first-ever Finals game and its first Finals win, achieved in only the team's second season. The victory gives Golden State a 1–0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Golden State trailed early, finishing the first quarter down 22–14, before a strong second quarter put them ahead, and the teams traded the lead seven times across the game. The Valkyries managed only 9 points in the third quarter but closed with a 17–6 run in the fourth to secure the win. The final score of 68–64 reflects how tight the contest stayed until the last minutes.
Gabby Williams scored a game-high 26 points, the only Golden State player to reach double figures. She scored 16 of those points in the second quarter and accounted for the team's last 8 points of the game. She also made four free throws in the final 1:18, including the two that sealed the win with 4.1 seconds left.
Kiah Stokes contributed 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocks, while Kaila Charles added 7 points, 10 rebounds and 2 steals. Those contributions mattered because Williams was the only Valkyrie in double digits. The balanced rebounding and defensive plays helped offset a difficult shooting night for the team overall.
Allisha Gray led the Dream with 19 points, though she was scoreless in the fourth quarter. Angel Reese recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Rhyne Howard added 12 points. Atlanta's scoring dried up late, which proved decisive in the final period.
Atlanta managed only 8 points in the fourth quarter and made just 2 of 19 field-goal attempts in that period. That cold stretch ended the Dream's 10-game win streak and gave them their first loss of the postseason. Golden State's 17–6 closing run was the direct result of Atlanta's inability to score.
The Valkyries shot 32.1 percent from the field and made 7 of 33 three-point attempts across the game. Despite those numbers, they won because their defense held Atlanta to 8 points in the fourth quarter. The game shows that a poor shooting night can be survived when the defense tightens at the right moment.
The game was the Valkyries' 50th straight home sellout, with 18,000 fans at Chase Center. Golden State returned to action unbeaten at home since August 19. The crowd atmosphere at Chase Center has become a consistent feature of the team's home games.
Golden State is the first WNBA expansion team to reach the Finals in its second season. The franchise was competing in only its second year of existence when it hosted Game 1. This makes the Finals appearance itself a milestone for the young team.
Atlanta has lost all three of its previous WNBA Finals appearances, most recently in 2013, when the Dream were swept. The franchise has still never won a Finals game. Both teams are therefore chasing a first championship, which raises the stakes of the series.
Because the Valkyries are in only their second season, Game 1 was both their first Finals game and their first Finals victory. There is no prior Finals history for the franchise to compare it to. The win immediately becomes the benchmark for the team's postseason record.
The WNBA Finals are a best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games takes the championship. Golden State's 1–0 lead is an early advantage, but the series is far from decided. Game 2 will be the next opportunity for either team to shift momentum.
Game 2 is scheduled for Monday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. The game will be broadcast on USA and Peacock, with a 5 p.m. Pacific Time start. The venue stays the same, giving Golden State another home-court opportunity.
Tiffany Hayes left the game in the closing minutes after hitting her face on the floor and walked to the locker room. She did not return to the game. Her status for Game 2 is worth monitoring as the series continues.
The defeat was DeWanna Bonner's first since joining the Atlanta Dream. It also ended the Dream's run of wins that had stretched back to August 28. The loss interrupts what had been a strong stretch for Atlanta before the Finals.
Before Game 1, Golden State had been unbeaten at home since August 19. The win extended that run and kept the team perfect at Chase Center during that span. Playing at home has clearly been an advantage for the Valkyries this season.
Fifty consecutive home sellouts at 18,000 seats reflects sustained local interest in the Valkyries. That kind of attendance is notable for a franchise in only its second season. The crowd at Chase Center was present for the team's first Finals win.
The WNBA Finals continue with Game 2 on Monday, and the series will remain in San Francisco for that game. Broadcast details for later games in the series are not covered in the sources summarized here. For the most current schedule, check the WNBA's official site.
The trending term "Valkyries game" refers to the Golden State Valkyries, a WNBA team, not to the Valkyries of Norse mythology or characters in other games. The same word can point to different things depending on context. If a different "Valkyries" was intended, the relevant sources would need to be checked separately.
Golden State won 68–64 on the strength of Gabby Williams's 26 points and a fourth-quarter defensive effort that held Atlanta to 8 points. The win gave the franchise its first Finals victory and a 1–0 series lead. Game 2 on Monday at Chase Center is the next chance for either team to change the series trajectory.
