The Golden State Valkyries secured a 77-66 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday night at Chase Center in San Francisco, powered by a dominant individual performance from Gabby Williams and steady playmaking from Veronica Burton.
Williams was the engine of the Valkyries’ offense from start to finish, finishing as the game’s leading scorer with 23 points while also pulling down a team-high 5 rebounds. Her ability to create and convert kept Atlanta’s defense scrambling throughout the night, and Golden State leaned on her production whenever the Dream threatened to close the gap.
Burton, meanwhile, controlled the tempo from the point guard position, distributing the ball with precision to finish with a game-high 7 assists. Her ability to push the pace and find open teammates helped Golden State generate quality looks and maintain offensive rhythm against an Atlanta defense that was active but ultimately unable to contain the Valkyries’ attack.
For the Dream, Madina Okot led all Atlanta scorers with 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a night of persistent shooting struggles. Atlanta connected on just 25 of 64 field goal attempts, a 39 percent clip that made it difficult to sustain any meaningful offensive momentum. The Dream were even more inefficient from beyond the arc, converting only 4 of 18 three-point attempts for a 22 percent mark — a number that proved costly in a game decided by 11 points.
Atlanta also had trouble at the free throw line, making 12 of 22 attempts for just 55 percent, leaving several points on the board that could have made the final margin more competitive. The Dream committed 13 total turnovers, further compounding their offensive woes and giving Golden State additional possessions to extend its lead.
Angel Reese was a bright spot in the paint for Atlanta, hauling in a game-high 12 rebounds to go along with 4 assists, demonstrating her continued ability to impact a game on the glass even when her team’s offense sputters. The Dream did collect 12 offensive rebounds, showing some tenacity in second-chance opportunities, but their inability to convert those extra possessions into points ultimately neutralized the advantage.
Atlanta finished with 34 total rebounds and 16 assists as a team, numbers that reflect a squad capable of moving the ball and competing on the boards. However, the combination of a 39 percent shooting night and 13 turnovers created too large a deficit to overcome against a Valkyries team that capitalized on every miscue.
Golden State’s defense deserves credit for keeping Atlanta’s offense disjointed. By forcing turnovers and contesting shots consistently, the Valkyries were able to protect their lead down the stretch and close out the game without a serious late-game scare.
The 11-point final margin tells the story of a game where Golden State controlled the key variables — efficient scoring from Williams, sharp distribution from Burton, and a defense that kept Atlanta’s shooters uncomfortable all night. The Valkyries improve with the win, while the Dream will need to address their shooting efficiency and ball security before their next outing.
