WNBA FINALS: DREAM VS. VALKYRIES

October 17, 2026

Gabby Williams

Kiah Stokes

Golden State Valkyries

Game 1: Postgame

Golden State Valkyries 68, Atlanta Dream 64

Q. You guys held Angel without a basket in the second half. What did you guys do to adjust on her and how do you like the way that you defended her?

KIAH STOKES: Just tried to make things difficult, as difficult as possible. She definitely got going in the first half and we just want to limit her touches, and a big emphasis on boxing out and rebounding.

Q. Gabby, the poise that you guys show in this stretch of games, especially in this last couple of months, seems to be the standard. Can you just talk a little bit about poise and composure and how you guys managed to find it again?

GABBY WILLIAMS: Yeah, even though we were down, I think with a few minutes left, I think we had the game right where we wanted it because it just came down to getting stops. That's been our bread and butter all season. That's why we harp on so much because we've built great defensive habits for these moments.

Q. Gabby, in the fourth quarter, a lot of times they spread the court and get you the ball. How much of an offensive burden is that and how much freedom is there in having that space and license that obviously was effective again today?

GABBY WILLIAMS: Yeah, our spacing is everything, not just in the fourth quarter but in general.

So I've been in this situation, obviously, many times this season. I feel the belief and trust from my teammates and staff, and I think that's why those moments don't maybe feel as heavy because I know whatever happens, like this team is just going to find a way, so yeah.

Q. Seemed like you willed this team to victory today especially in the fourth quarter. You guys ended the third quarter on a 7-0 run or late in the quarter. Do you feel the momentum changed at that point in the game for you guys?

GABBY WILLIAMS: Yeah, Kiah and Kai made game-winning plays tonight. Kiah got a big O board after I missed a layup, she got the O board and got the lid off the basket. We got going after that.

And same with Kai. Kai made a huge defensive stop into transition, got a wide open layup and those are the kind of things that when shots aren't falling, those are the kind of plays that are going to win these kinds of games.

Q. You went 6-for-6 in the fourth quarter on your free throws and some were coming when you guys were needing to build as much of a lead as possible late. What are you thinking when you step to the line in those moments? And for one of those sets, were you feeling sore or uncomfortable with your body? Looked like something hurt.

GABBY WILLIAMS: No, I'm okay. I'm okay. I mean, it was a long game (laughing). It was a long, physical game. So there was probably, you know -- no, but I'm okay.

And when I step to the line I'm just saying, "You're going to make it." That's about it. Take a deep breath. "You're going to make it." Shoot the free throw.

Q. Earlier this week, or I guess yesterday, you talked about the way you kind of perceive late-game situations. You break them down into segments and you talked about your love of math and how you use that to maintain composure.

KIAH STOKES: Nerd! (Laughing)

GABBY WILLIAMS: I knew you were going to say that --

Q. But yeah, I guess in this situation, you guys looked like you won that composure battle. What was your mind doing in this late-game scenario?

GABBY WILLIAMS: Yeah, same thing, doing math. One of our trainers, she was like, in the fourth quarter, you always do this thing and I know you're going to start taking over, you look at the clock. And I'm like, yeah, I'm counting. I'm counting possessions, I'm counting points, what do we need now, what's the most timely time to go.

I think it's just like the best way to kind of take the pressure off things, too, is just to break them down possession by possession.

Q. It felt like from the second quarter onward, when you were in ball screens, felt like a lot more flatter angles on those and a lot more re-screens. From your perspective, how often are you calling for those specific angles?

GABBY WILLIAMS: Actually, I would give a lot of credit to Kiah on that. She's probably like the best screener in the league, which isn't really talked about enough. But she knows what angles through the defense.

I mean, Atlanta also did a great job. I'm just going to have to go back and watch the video and see what they did well on those screens and what I can improve on.