{"id":499721,"date":"2026-10-18T01:22:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T01:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499721\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T01:22:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T01:22:18","slug":"valkyries-take-wnba-finals-game-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/499721\/","title":{"rendered":"Valkyries Take WNBA Finals Game 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Valkyries bested the Atlanta Dream at San Francisco\u2019s Chase Center. <\/p>\n

Oct 17, 2026<\/p>\n

Updated 5:24 pm PT<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Fans stand outside Chase Center in San Francisco before the WNBA Finals game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream on Oct. 17, 2026. The Valkyries bested the Atlanta Dream at San Francisco\u2019s Chase Center. \u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s another first for the Golden State Valkyries<\/a> \u2014 the franchise\u2019s first-ever WNBA Finals win.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The team took Game 1 of the best-of-seven series against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Valkyries channeled a lively Ballhalla crowd during the match, taking in yet another sold-out arena\u2019s roars. The game was a close one at 68-64. The two teams went back and forth to take the lead until the last few minutes, when the Valkyries held on.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans cheer for the Golden State Valkyries during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe always know we\u2019re gonna find a way somehow,\u201d forward Gabby Williams told reporters after the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When asked how it felt to hear the crowd shout her name, Williams said it feels \u201clike we\u2019re not done yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Viveca Ycoy-Walton, who watched the game at Oakland\u2019s Golden Ratio Bar, was feeling differently.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m feeling freaking amazing,\u201d Ycoy-Walton said. \u201cThis is a moment for the Bay right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The Golden State Valkyries celebrate their win against the Atlanta Dream during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"The Golden State Valkyries play the Atlanta Dream during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

Atlanta and Golden State are both top-tier defending teams, and as they battled the Valkyries seemed to miss some of the shots they would usually make. Williams wasn\u2019t worried.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel the belief and the trust from my teammates and staff. That\u2019s why those moments don\u2019t maybe feel as heavy, because I know whatever happens, this team is just going to find a way,\u201d Williams said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fans cheered throughout the game and erupted when the Valkyries got the win. Even before the match, they showed their love for the atmosphere in and out of the arena.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Alisha Ardiana, dressed in lavender coveralls, hair and a Valkyries bag outside of Chase Center, made fun of her wife last year for her interest in the team \u2014 only to find herself basking in the joy she said she was surrounded by.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The Golden State Valkyries play the Atlanta Dream during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

\u201cToday is about lavender,\u201d Ardiana said. \u201cSo much of what is important about this event is that everyone gets to be a shiny 12-year-old version of themselves.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Carol Rossi\u2019s journey to being a fan was a little different \u2014 she was a founding season ticket holder. She said she thought fans would mostly be other lesbians, but found that families, dads and people of all cultures were always around.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe like to say, \u2018This is what our country would be like if Kamala [Harris] had been elected president,\u2019\u201d Rossi said. \u201cEveryone\u2019s welcome and we get along.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans cheer for the Golden State Valkyries during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans cheer for the Golden State Valkyries during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

Season ticket holder Jessie Dotson said she\u2019s been \u201call in\u201d since experiencing the energy of the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just love the game, I love the vibe. It\u2019s just like a happy place,\u201d Dotson said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Valkyries will be adding to their list of historic firsts if they win the series.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They\u2019re only in their second season. Despite being the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, they were counted out by some in the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces, who they swept<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"Alisha Ardiana stands outside Chase Center in San Francisco before the WNBA Finals game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"\"Alison Garvin (left) and Mallory Haggart cheer outside Chase Center in San Francisco before the WNBA Finals game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream on Oct. 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re no underdogs in the Finals, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s thanks to Ballhalla\u2019s magic<\/a> or the undeniable strength of the team\u2019s roster this year, ESPN predicted\u00a0 before Game 1 that the Valkyries had a 62.4% chance<\/a> of taking home the franchise\u2019s first championship.<\/p>\n

The Dream, which swept the New York Liberty in its own semifinals series, hasn\u2019t been to the finals since 2013, when they were swept (like they were the other two previous times the Dream reached the WNBA\u2019s highest stage). But they have three all stars this year and are leading<\/a> ESPN\u2019s individual player playoff rankings.<\/p>\n

In the Valkyries\u2019 first season, they clinched an expansion team\u2019s first appearance in the playoffs after achieving<\/a> the league\u2019s second-best first-year winning percentage ever. They were swept in the first round, but clearly didn\u2019t give up.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans stand outside Chase Center in San Francisco before the WNBA Finals game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream on Oct. 17, 2026.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

They\u2019re the first professional women\u2019s sports team to generate at least<\/a> $100 million in annual revenue \u2014 in the second year in a row the Valks have posted<\/a> the highest value of any WNBA team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ycoy-Walton said if they win, it will be \u201cby design.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s no secret that at the second year of what they\u2019ve built there in the organization, from the [general manager] all the way down to the coaches, even to the support staff, they built something really special here in Oakland even though they play in [San Francisco],\u201d Ycoy-Walton said. \u201cOakland really has a big piece of the heart of the Valks.\u201d<\/p>\n

V Vasquez, a bartender at Golden Ratio, said at halftime that the Valkyries mean more for Oakland because of the departure of other professional sports teams like the former Oakland Raiders and the A\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Fans cheer for the Golden State Valkyries during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 2026.\u00a0(Beth LaBerge\/KQED)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bummer to see them go,\u201d Vasquez said. \u201cA women\u2019s basketball team, I feel like it\u2019s bringing in a lot of people who maybe weren\u2019t following the WNBA before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Game 2 of the Finals is at Chase Center on Monday at 5 p.m, and Nakase is hoping fans bring even more energy. \u201cLevel up, right? We gotta go Game 2,\u201d Nakase said after the game. \u201c It has to be better, we\u2019re gonna ask more from our players so I\u2019d say \u2026 rest and recover, Ballhalla.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

KQED\u2019s Natalia Navarro<\/a> and Christopher Alam<\/a> contributed to this report.<\/p>\n