Game 1 of the WNBA Finals witnessed a shooting stat that no team likes seeing. This series was expected to be a close defensive matchup, with the Valkyries, the team with the WNBA’s best defensive rating at 99.1, taking on the Atlanta Dream, the team with the second-best defensive rating at 103.5, per StatMuse. However, few would’ve expected so many whiffed shots.
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A post by Just Women’s Hoops on Instagram highlighted just how deeply dug in and misfiring the two sides were.
The post revealed that both teams shot below 33% from the field in Game 1. And this was only the second time this has happened in the WNBA Finals. The first time this happened was when the Houston Comets and New York Liberty combined to shoot 29.9% in the 1999 Finals.
Atlanta Dream took 64 shots from the field, but could only convert 21 of them, registering an FG% of 32.8. Atlanta’s shooting troubles can be gauged from that fact. While they found success focusing on layups, despite leading the game until the fourth quarter, they failed to close out for a win. Reese failed to score any field goals in the entirety of the second half.
The Valkyries fared no better, as they took 78 shots and made only 25 of them, recording an FG% of 32.1. Both teams fared poorly in shooting from beyond the arc as well, with the Dream making four of their 25 three-pointers and the Valkyries making seven of 33.
On the other hand, interior defense was crucial for both teams, highlighted by the number of defensive rebounds grabbed by both teams. The Valkyries grabbed 29 DREB, while the Dream had 28.
If this game served as a precursor, the rest of the series is expected to be a low-scoring contest as well.
Both teams will look to regroup and fix the respective issues they had in Game 1. The Valkyries will look to relieve some of the offensive burden on Gabby Williams, as she was the only player to score in double digits for them in Game 1, with 26 points. Also, with Williams on defensive duties as well, Natalie Nakse will have to think about her workload too, especially if this series goes to seven games. A fatigued, or worse, injured Gabby Williams will hurt the Valkyries’ chances to lift the title in a major way.
The Dream will look to get Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard more involved in the first quarters, and will hope that Angel Reese is there to support them on the offensive end.
Despite her less-than-ideal outing in the second half of the game, a WNBA legend insists that offensively, the Dream should not give up on Angel Reese this early in the series.
Angel Reese Can Still Add Value On The Offensive End For The Dream
Angel Reese and the Dream had a head start in the game. Reese scored eleven points in the first quarter, going 5-for-6 from the field. Atlanta was even leading 22-14 by the second quarter.
However, everything flipped in the second half. Reese managed to take just two shots and failed to convert any of them. But despite this, two-time WNBA All-Star Chiney Ogwumike insists that Atlanta should keep their faith intact in Reese in their offensive scheme.
“When everyone was missing shots left, right, and center, out emerged in the first quarter Angel Reese. It looked like no one could guard her,” Ogwumike said, per PFSN.
That’s because Reese did have all-around impact besides shooting. She finished the game with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
“[Kayla] Thornton had opportunities on her. They just sent everybody not named Kiah, and she just had a field day. She just feasted; she went through their chest,” referring to the fact that Reese made the most of the opportunity when Kiah Stokes was not guarding her.
It’s unlikely that both teams will change any of their game plans in Game 2 or the rest of the series.
Atlanta will surely feel good about having Allisha Gray back in the lineup, and with Gray picking up 19 points in Game 1, it looks like the finger injury has not impacted her form.
Rhyne Howard was criticized by some Dream fans for her play in the dying moments of the game, as her last-ditch pass to Allisha Gray failed to salvage the game for the Dream, with fans highlighting that Howard dribbled the ball for too long. Howard will certainly hope to improve on her 2-of-9 outing from beyond the arc.
Despite its rugged and defensive nature, the fans remain excited for Game 2, which will be held on Monday at the Chase Center.