Atlanta Dream Carry an 0-10 WNBA Finals Record Into Game 2 at Golden State

Photo: WNBA.com. Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream guard.

Down 66-64 with the ball and 23.8 seconds left in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, Rhyne Howard couldn't get past her defender, hurried a pass to Allisha Gray, and Gray's long three missed, dropping the Atlanta Dream to 0-10 all-time in Finals games. Game 2 tips at 8 p.m. ET Monday at Chase Center, where Golden State is unbeaten this postseason, and a second loss would leave Atlanta needing four wins in the next five games.

Ten Finals games, zero wins

The first nine came in three sweeps. Seattle beat Atlanta 79-77, 87-84 and 87-84 in 2010. Minnesota swept the Dream in 2011 and again in 2013. Saturday's 68-64 loss makes four Finals games out of 10 that Atlanta has lost by four points or fewer, by The Dyme's count from the Basketball-Reference box scores.

This group walked into Chase Center on a franchise-record 10-game winning streak, five of those wins in the playoffs. It swept Washington and New York, then lost a Finals opener it led for almost 80 percent of the game, per Swish Appeal. Golden State led for a total of 6:08, per Yahoo Sports.

The third quarter Atlanta owns

Atlanta has dominated third quarters all postseason, per the team, and Saturday followed the script. The Dream held Golden State to 4-of-25 shooting in the third, hit 6 of its own 12, and turned a 42-39 halftime deficit into a 56-51 lead. Then the offense stopped. Atlanta made one field goal over the final 7:16 and went 2-for-19 in the fourth.

Atlanta used seven players. All five starters played at least 29 minutes, and Howard and Jordin Canada each logged 38 of the 40. Golden State played 10, and only Gabby Williams went past 30. Golden State's bench outscored Atlanta's 20-6, and DeWanna Bonner finished minus-13 in 14 minutes. The Valkyries' own preview says the Dream "seemingly ran out of gas," and Gray, back from an injured left ring finger on her shooting hand, hadn't played a full game since the first round.

Reese's touches, Reese's fouls

Angel Reese scored 11 on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter, the fifth player in WNBA history to score at least 11 on 80 percent shooting in the opening quarter of a Finals game, per Yahoo Sports. She went 0-for-5 the rest of the night and didn't attempt a shot in the third. Over the 10-game streak she averaged 19.1 points on 56.2 percent shooting.

"Angel had a great first half," Dream coach Karl Smesko said. "We didn't get her the ball enough."

Reese also picked up her fifth foul for the third time in six playoff games, per Yahoo Sports, and two of them came in the final 1:18. The first sent Williams to the line for the go-ahead free throws at 65-64. The second, on an offensive rebound chase, sent Kiah Stokes to the line for one more. By The Dyme's count from the team recap, those two whistles gave Golden State three of its five points over the last 1:18.

Atlanta's shooting late

Howard shot 3-of-14, 2-of-9 from three. Gray shot 5-of-19, 1-of-8 from deep. Atlanta missed three 3-pointers in the final minute and change, per the team. Canada had eight points, seven assists and five rebounds, plus a 13-foot jumper with 4:23 left that kept the Dream in front.

The season series

The Valkyries averaged 82.2 points in the regular season, second to last in the league. Atlanta averaged 91.3, third. Saturday the Dream scored 64, their lowest total of the season. The previous low, 68, also came against Golden State in June. The Valkyries are 4-0 against Atlanta this year, and the two teams combined to shoot 32 percent in Game 1, the second-worst mark in a Finals game.

Golden State won that game shooting 32.1 percent and 7-of-33 from three, and the Valkyries lost five home games all season, none by more than 11.

"We had a couple dry spells where we just weren't working together as well as you need to against this defense," Smesko said.

Down 0-2, the Dream would need four of the next five, with at least one of those wins back at Chase Center. Games 3 and 4 move to State Farm Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 24.

Photo: Atlanta Dream / WNBA.com. Angel Reese and the Dream during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center, Oct. 17, 2026.

Sources

• Atlanta Dream: Dream Falls in Game 1 of WNBA Finals (final possession at 23.8 seconds, three missed 3-pointers in the final minute, Howard's pass to Gray, 32.8 percent shooting, one field goal over the final 7:16, third quarter 4-of-25 vs 6-of-12 and 56-51 lead, Reese fouls on Williams and on the rebound chase, Stokes 1-of-2, 0-for-10 in Finals games, Smesko quotes). Oct. 17, 2026.
• Golden State Valkyries: WNBA Finals Game 2 Preview (Dream used seven players, starters 29-plus minutes, Howard and Canada 38 of 40, Valkyries 10 deep with only Williams past 30, bench 20-6, Bonner minus-13 in 14 minutes, 2-for-19 fourth, "seemingly ran out of gas," unbeaten at Chase Center this postseason). Oct. 19, 2026.
• Yahoo Sports: As Dream's search for first WNBA Finals win continues (0-10 in Finals games, 10-game streak, Valkyries led for a total of 6:08, Reese 11 on 5-of-6 and fifth player to do it, 19.1 points on 56.2 percent over the streak, fifth foul for the third time in six games, Howard 3-of-14 and 2-of-9, Gray 5-of-19 and 1-of-8, 82.2 vs 91.3 points per game, season-low 64 and previous low 68 vs Golden State, combined 32 percent second-worst in a Finals game, Smesko quotes). Oct. 18, 2026.
• Swish Appeal: WNBA Finals Game 2 discussion (Dream led almost 80 percent of Game 1, franchise-record 10 straight wins, Valkyries 4-0 vs Atlanta in 2026, Gray's first full game since the first round, Valkyries' five home losses with the worst by 11, four of the next five after 0-2). Oct. 19, 2026.
• AP via WNBA.com: Game 1 recap (Gray's injured left ring finger on her shooting hand, Canada 8 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and a 13-foot jumper with 4:23 left, Golden State 32.1 percent and 7-of-33 from three). Oct. 17, 2026.
• AP via Chattanooga Times Free Press: Dream, Valkyries both hope to be better in Game 2 (Smesko quote on dry spells). Oct. 18, 2026.
• WNBA.com: 2026 WNBA Finals Preview (series schedule, Game 2 at 8 p.m. ET, Games 3 and 4 in Atlanta Oct. 21 and Oct. 24).
• Basketball-Reference: 2010 WNBA Finals (Seattle 79-77, 87-84, 87-84), 2011 WNBA Finals (Minnesota 88-74, 101-95, 73-67), 2013 WNBA Finals (Minnesota 84-59, 88-63, 86-77).