Valkyries chase a 2-0 WNBA Finals lead as the Dream try to bounce back in Game 2

The Golden State Valkyries are one home win away from taking a 2-0 grip on the WNBA Finals.

The Valkyries host the Atlanta Dream in Game 2 on Monday at 7 p.m. Central at Chase Center in San Francisco. The game airs on USA, CNBC, Peacock and E!.

Both franchises are chasing their first WNBA championship.

How Game 1 was won

Golden State took the opener 68-64 on Saturday in a game with seven lead changes. Gabby Williams scored 26 points and made four free throws in the final 1:18 to close it out. She was the only Valkyries player in double figures.

The difference came late. Atlanta shot 2 for 20 in the fourth quarter as Golden State outscored the Dream 17-8 in the period. The Dream finished 4 of 25 from 3-point range.

Williams said the Valkyries had the Dream "right where we wanted them" even while trailing late because they knew the game would come down to stops.

"That's our bread and butter," she said.

Kaila Charles gave Golden State 30 hard minutes off the bench with seven points and 10 rebounds. The Valkyries won the rebounding battle 41-35.

What Atlanta needs

Allisha Gray led the Dream with 19 points but did not score in the fourth quarter and went 1 of 8 from deep. Angel Reese had 14 points and 12 rebounds but was held scoreless after halftime. Rhyne Howard scored 12 on 3-of-14 shooting.

Dream coach Karl Smesko said the loss came down to one bad defensive stretch and a cold fourth quarter rather than anything Golden State did.

The defeat snapped Atlanta's 10-game winning streak, which dated to the regular season.

Home court in Ballhalla

The Valkyries are 5-0 at home this postseason. Their 17-5 home record in the regular season was the best in the league. They also swept the Dream 3-0 during the season.

Golden State finished 32-12. Atlanta went 30-14 and led the league in points in the paint.

Neither team is at full strength. Golden State's Iliana Rupert is out for the season because of her pregnancy. Atlanta's Brionna Jones is out with a leg injury.

The series uses a 2-2-1-1-1 format. Games 3 and 4 shift to Atlanta, with Golden State hosting Games 5 and 7 if needed.