Winning on the road is never easy in the WNBA playoffs, but the Golden State Valkyries have been able to take ‘home-court advantage’ to the next level thanks to their fans. At Chase Center, the home fans can turn every opponent’s mistake into an energizing moment for the team, something the Atlanta Dream found out firsthand during Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, validating head coach Natalie Nakase’s beliefs. Now, one journalist has delivered their verdict on the crowd after the game.
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“We’re looking at the box score, but Ballhalla, what type of stats did they put up?” WNBA journalist Jordan Robinson said during a segment on the Girls Tripp podcast.
“Because it is so hard to play there. We talked about it. Atlanta has to win there if they want to win this series. That’s the elephant in the room… They have to win there. They have to figure out a way to win there. And it is so hard. And I think when it is those moments in the game where Atlanta maybe was struggling, or even if Golden State was struggling, that crowd really lifted them up.”
The fan atmosphere at Chase Center, known around the league as Ballhalla, has been well-known for being one of the most oppressive environments for opposing teams.
Golden State has sold out every home game since entering the league in 2025, a streak that continued into Game 1 of the Finals. Over 18,000 fans came to cheer on the home team, perhaps due to a challenge issued by Nakase before the game.
“Since we’re prepping for a great game plan, Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. So, as soon as they’re announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase told reporters following a team practice on October 14.
“If they do a challenge, I need hostility. If they’re shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking. So, game plan, Ballhalla. Get ready. Get prepped because we definitely got to use Ballhalla as our sixth man.”
It worked. Despite the Atlanta Dream’s best efforts, the crowd and Golden State’s unrelenting defense seemed to overwhelm them at times. Even though Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko thought his team performed as best as they could, he didn’t shy away from highlighting the Ballhalla crowd, calling them “great” for “cheering at all the right times.”
His admission stands out particularly because the Dream completely fell apart when it mattered most. Heading into the fourth quarter, Atlanta was up 56-51, having held the Valkyries to a nine-point quarter. However, they shot just 2-19 in the final period, including going scoreless in the final 2:53, surrendering a win to the home team.
Gabby Williams was the leader of that effort. She finished the game with 26 points, the only Valkyries player in double digits, and went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 2:53, sealing a 68-64 loss for the Dream, who entered the matchup undefeated in the postseason.
This was just a continuation of how things went in the regular season. The Valkyries won 17 of 22 games at home, including going 3-0 against the Dream.
However, with the Finals set to be a best-of-seven series, one win won’t be enough for the Valkyries, especially with the Dream likely looking to bounce back in Game 2. That’s why, at the end of Game 1, Nakase, despite praising the fans, came back with an even bigger challenge.
“Great job but hey, level up, right? Like we’ve got to go Game 2, it has to be better. We’re going to ask more from our players. So I’d say, check for Game 1,” she said after the game. “Let’s get a better Game 2. Rest and recover, Ballhalla. Careful what you drink tonight.”
Only time will tell if her challenge is matched by the fans, but judging from Game 1, Atlanta has their work cut out for them if they want to take home their first championship.