Gabby Williams explains her late-game calculations after Valkyries take Finals lead
The Golden State guard says counting possessions helps her handle pressure. Her 26 points powered a 68-64 Game 1 win over the Atlanta Dream.
Golden State Valkyries guard Gabby Williams said she counts possessions, points and time to manage late-game pressure, an approach she described after scoring 26 points in a 68-64 home win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals in San Francisco on Saturday. The victory gave Golden State a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
How Williams approaches the final minutes
Williams told the Associated Press that she looks at the clock late in games and works out how many possessions remain, how many points her team needs and when to make a move. Breaking the game down possession by possession, she said, helps take pressure off decisions that might otherwise feel bigger.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said Williams’s calculations are her own way of reading the game. Nakase said she focuses instead on defensive coverages, schemes and the energy and connection within her team. Williams said a member of Golden State’s training staff had noticed her checking the clock before taking over late in games.
Williams’s 26 points in Game 1
Williams missed her first four shots but scored 16 of her 26 points in the second quarter, according to the AP. She was Golden State’s only player in double figures as the Valkyries shot 32.1% from the field and made seven of 33 three-point attempts. ESPN reported that she made four free throws in the final 1:18 to secure the win.
The result was Golden State’s first Finals win in its first appearance in the championship series, ESPN reported. An earlier NewsJaws report covered Williams’s scoring in the Game 1 victory; her subsequent account adds how she thinks through the closing minutes.
Atlanta’s response before Game 2
For Atlanta, Allisha Gray scored 19 points but none in the fourth quarter, ESPN reported. Angel Reese added 14 points and 12 rebounds. The Dream had reached the Finals with sweeps in their first two playoff series, but have yet to win a Finals game, according to the AP.
Dream coach Karl Smesko said Atlanta needed to sustain its style of play for all four quarters. He said the team had stretches when it did not work together well enough to create chances against Golden State’s defense, and pointed to miscommunication even though he thought his players handled the noise of the sellout crowd. Game 2 was scheduled for Monday night at Golden State’s home venue; Nakase urged Valkyries fans to bring more energy for it.
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Sources and context
- Valkyries star Gabby Williams counts possessions, keeps track of everything to lead late in gamesAssociated Press, republished by Yahoo Sports
- How Golden State held court to take 1-0 lead over Atlanta in WNBA FinalsESPN
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.