The Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries began their fight for the ultimate prize on Saturday, with Game 1 of the WNBA Finals now in the books.
Emphasis on "fight," as both sides proved why they were two of the league's top three defences this season — with a combined six all-defensive selections — in what went down as a grind-it-out affair.
It was the Valkyries who ultimately landed the first punch, rallying past the Dream 68-64 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven title series.
A hard-fought victory in which Atlanta and Golden State shot a combined 32.4 per cent from the field and saw about as many bodies dribble off the floor as balls did. Regardless of the unflattering box score, mark it down as the Valkyries first Finals win in franchise history — in Year 2 of existence, no less — and assume "Ballhalla" won't stop rocking anytime soon, considering 71 per cent of teams that take the first game of the title series go on to win it all.
With the opening salvo now complete, and before action resumes on Monday, here are the takeaways from Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Fourth-quarter famine
It was no secret that if the Valkyries were going to take this matchup, they'd have to stymie what had been the WNBA's top late-game offence throughout the playoffs.
Well, for at least one game, the Dream were kept in check in the clutch. Atlanta shot just 2-of-19 from the field in the final frame for just eight points to the Valkyries 17. That's not to say Golden State was much more efficient, as it was just 4-of-16 in the fourth. The difference was that while the Dream began to settle for outside jumpers — shooting 0-of-7 from distance in the final 10 minutes, including five misses in the final two-and-a-half minutes — as the Valkyries' defence puffed its chest, Golden State stayed committed to getting inside and was rewarded with 11 free throws (plus-7) and knocked down eight of them.
It was an especially surprising turn of events considering Atlanta — scoreless through the final three minutes — was a perfect 3-0 in clutch games as part of its undefeated start to the playoffs (5-0) before Saturday. Allisha Gray and Angel Reese, who led the Dream in scoring with 19 and 14 points, were each held scoreless through the final 10 minutes and shot a combined 0-of-9 as their five-point lead entering the fourth crumbled into a four-point loss.
"We always know we're going to find a way somehow," said Gabby Williams on the broadcast following the win. "There was a lid on that basket tonight, but that's why we rely on our defence."
Who said the Valkyries don't have a superstar?
All the talk entering Game 1 was describing the matchup as superstars vs. superteam — even the pre-game broadcast flashed a graphic with that exact headline, flexing the notion that the Valkyries take more of a do-it-by-committee approach, while the Dream handle business through its top-end talent.
Gabby Williams would like a word.
The two-time all-star not only finished the night with a game-high 26 points, four rebounds and two assists to carve out a plus-16 showing, but she single-handedly accounted for nearly 40 per cent of the Valkyries' entire scoring production.
Had it not been for her 16 first-half points (tied with Jonquel Jones for third-most points in a WNBA Finals quarter), all of which came in the second frame and included a personal 7-0, it's unlikely Golden State would have overcome Atlanta's strong start or turned an early eight-point deficit to a 42-39 lead by halftime.
And if that wasn't enough, she added another eight points during the Valkyries' fourth-quarter comeback, including four clutch free throws in the final minute to re-take the lead and seal the deal.
Not to mention, Williams was Rhyne Howard's primary assignment in Game 1 and helped limit the Dream star to just 3-of-14 shooting, seven turnovers and 12 points.
All systems go for Allisha Gray
Despite a loss that'll surely leave a sour taste in the Dream's mouth, Gray's return was a welcomed sight.
She hadn't played since Oct. 4, when she injured her left hand against the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the semifinals. And Gray — with her pinky and ring finger wrapped together — wasted no time making an impact, blowing by Cecilia Zandalasini for the opening points of the series en route to a team-best 19 points, six rebounds, two assists and 8-of-8 shooting from the line.
Had it not been for a 5-of-19 showing from the field, 1-of-8 from deep and missing all seven of her shots in the fourth quarter, it would've been a picture-esque return for Gray. Still, her scoring in the half-court should continue to make noise this series, and it's unlikely the career 35 per cent three-point shooter struggles that mightily from distance going forward.
The opportunities will certainly continue to be there, just like they were on Saturday. Gray had a chance to tie the game with less than 10 seconds left when she settled into a 25-footer from the left wing and got it off cleanly over the contesting arm of Kiah Stokes — avoiding what would've been the Golden State centre's fifth block — but fell way short of the rim.
Canadian content
Leave it to Natalie Nakase to leave everyone guessing. After turning to the seldom-seen Aminata Gueye to back up Kiah Stokes against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, favouring more size against the likes of A'ja Wilson, the Valkyries bench boss opted to roll the dice once more in Game 1 of the Finals.
This time she tapped Canada's Laeticia Amihere, who had played just six minutes throughout the playoffs before Saturday. And the gamble for mobility over strength paid off as the Mississauga, Ont., native not only finished with five points, five rebounds and a block in her 14 minutes, but was a plus-9 after helping disrupt the early rhythm that Reese had gotten in.
The Dream's star forward was kept relatively in check in the opening minutes by Stokes, but as soon as the Valkyries' centre sat, Reese hit her stride with 11 first-quarter points on 5-of-6 shooting. She kept flashing to the elbows, kept bullying her way to the basket and kept finding success — much to the dismay of Kayla Thornton, who was on the receiving end of most of those buckets.
Nakase then opted to sprinkle Amihere into the mix come the second half, when she played 10 of her 14 minutes and helped limit Reese to just two shot attempts and zero points the rest of the way.
Battered and bruised
The playoffs are always a war of attrition, but doubly so in the final stage and triply so when it's two teams that grind down opponents as well as the Dream and Valkyries do.
Aside from Gray entering the matchup nursing a hand injury, there may be a couple more ailments worth keeping an eye on. Howard briefly left in the fourth quarter following an awkward fall after her layup attempt was blocked by Kaila Charles. She was down on the court for a bit of time before she was guided off the floor by trainers, but did return to finish the game.
On the other end, Tiffany Hayes also left the game in the final frame after hitting the ground hard while diving for a loose ball, while Williams spent the closing moments of Game 1 playing with a visible limp after taking a bump from Jordin Canada at the free-throw line.
Luckily for fans of both teams, all players appear to be okay. Howard confirmed post-game that she's "healthy as can be," while Williams also quelled concerns over her status for Game 2 on Monday. As for Hayes, it was Nakase who told reporters the forward is "good."