Gabby Williams scores 26 points as Valkyries defeat Dream in WNBA Finals opener

Gabby Williams so believes in Golden State's poise in crunch time because of the way the Valkyries have won all along with their defence.

They believe in each other to make the play in the biggest of moments.

Williams converted two free throws with 1:18 left to put Golden State ahead, two more with 4.1 seconds to go on the way to scoring 26 points while facing constant pressure from Atlanta's stingy defence, and the Valkyries held off the Dream 68-64 in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday.

"Even though we were down with a few minutes left I think we had the game right where we wanted it because it just came down to getting stops," Williams said. "That's been our bread and butter all season. That's why we harp on it so much because we've built great defensive habits for these moments."

It was the first loss all post-season for Atlanta, snapping a 10-game winning streak overall. And coach Karl Smesko was ready to get right back to work watching film to figure out what to do better in Game 2. The Dream are still yet to win a finals game, swept in each of their previous three trips.

"We were right there, right there, so that's why it hurts a little bit but it also motivates us," he said. "We know what we're capable of doing so we'll have one day to get ourselves as ready as possible and then I think we'll play even better."

Valkyries, Dream advance to WNBA Finals

Finding a way to slow down Williams — and all of her capable supporting cast — is going to be a challenge.

After a quiet first quarter, she scored 16 of her points in the second and no other Valkyries finished in double figures as they shot 32.1 per cent and 7 of 33 from three-point range.

"We always knew we were going to find a way somehow," Williams said on the