Golden State and Atlanta, both chasing a first championship, tipped off Game 1 at Chase Center with the basketball world watching.
The Golden State Valkyries opened their first WNBA Finals appearance at home against the Atlanta Dream, with Game 1 played at Chase Center on Saturday. Golden State arrived off a sweep of the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, while Atlanta is also chasing its first-ever title.
The Valkyries' depth has been a theme of their playoff run, with Gabby Williams drawing attention for her production and her effect on teammates. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham praised Williams on the "No Hesitation Show," specifically calling out the confidence Williams gives her teammates as "huge."
Golden State's crosstown connection was on display before tip-off, as Warriors star Steph Curry wore a jersey supporting Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, reflecting the local buzz around the series.
The matchup also carries symbolic weight for the league itself. Atlanta spent sixteen years as the WNBA's most recent expansion team before Golden State took over that distinction last season, and the two franchises arrived at this Finals from very different paths, Atlanta's a decade-long rebuild and Golden State's a rapid rise in its debut campaign.