The Atlanta Dream made it to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2013, but their Game 1 clash against the Golden State Valkyries has left fans questioning whether history is about to repeat itself. On Saturday, Atlanta suffered its first loss of the playoffs, falling 68-64 to the Valkyries at Chase Center. So with the Dream still searching for their first-ever WNBA Finals victory, many are wondering whether their run will end in the same disappointment as their previous trips to the championship series.
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As Angel Reese and Co. fell, ESPN Insights took to X to share a record the Dream would rather not be associated with.
“The Dream have never won a game in the Finals and are on their 10th consecutive Finals loss,” the page wrote. “That’s the most consecutive Finals losses in the history of the WNBA or NBA. 😲”
This stat quickly caught fans’ attention, as many took to the comments to share their reactions.
“Another record,” a fan wrote sarcastically. While another added, “And they finna get swept.”
The Atlanta Dream entered the Finals with high expectations. They were 5-0 in the playoffs after sweeping the Washington Mystics 2-0 in the first round and the New York Liberty 3-0 in the semifinals. Their Cinderella run made it seem like they were finally poised to break their past Finals struggles. Saturday, however, was not their night.
Atlanta first reached the championship series in 2010, when it faced the Seattle Storm but lost the series 0-3. The Dream returned to the Finals the following year, hoping for a different outcome, only to suffer another 0-3 defeat, this time against the Minnesota Lynx. They earned another shot at the title in 2013, but the result was the same, as Minnesota swept them once again. So now, after losing Game 1 of the ongoing WNBA Finals, Atlanta has extended that painful streak to 10 consecutive Finals losses.
It is worth noting that the Dream looked ready to change that narrative. Reese and her teammates came out with energy, outscoring Golden State 22-14 in the first quarter. The Valkyries, however, responded in the second, putting Atlanta in uncomfortable positions and outscoring the Dream 28-17 to take control. Atlanta found its rhythm once again in the third, outscoring Golden State 17-9, but the Valkyries held firm in the final 10 minutes. Behind Gabby Williams’ crucial late free throws, they limited the Dream to just eight points to seal the 68-64 win.
The loss not only ended Atlanta’s unbeaten playoff run but also brought its long-standing Finals struggles back into focus as fans were quick to point out the pattern.
One fan wrote, “When they get to the Finals, they have been the Atlanta Nightmare.” Another added, “Peak Atlanta sports stat.”
In this game, the Atlanta Dream struggled to get enough production from their key players when it mattered most. Jordin Canada was limited to eight points, while Angel Reese went scoreless in the second half. Rhyne Howard came close to fouling out, and veteran DeWanna Bonner managed just two points.
The surprising part was that the Valkyries did not have a particularly dominant offensive night, either. Williams was the only Golden State player to score in double figures, leaving the rest of the team in single digits. Still, the Valkyries found a way to take the opener, putting the pressure on Atlanta to respond.
The Dream will get another opportunity to change their trajectory when Game 2 takes place on October 19. However, the matchup will once again be played at Chase Center, where Golden State will have home-court advantage. So Atlanta will need to find answers quickly if it hopes to avoid falling into a deeper hole in the series.
One fan, though, is already looking ahead to the games in Atlanta, writing, “The Dream are going to win game 3 or 4.”
After the first two games at the Valkyries’ home court, Games 3 and 4 will take place at State Farm Arena, where the Dream will have their own crowd behind them. Whether that home support can help Atlanta finally turn its Finals fortunes around remains to be seen.