The Atlanta Dream last tasted defeat on August 28, when the Portland Fire beat them in the regular season.
Entering Saturday, they had won 10 straight, including five postseason victories.
However, the Dream’s winning streak ended in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals against the Golden State Valkyries.
Gabby Williams’ two free throws with just over a minute to go gave Golden State a lead they never relinquished, and they defeated Atlanta, 68-64, at Chase Center.
Allisha Gray, who returned to the lineup after missing two games with a hand injury and led the Dream with 19 points, had a chance to give Atlanta the lead, but she missed a three with 7.9 seconds left.
Golden State leads the series 1-0, and Game 2 in San Francisco is Monday night.
Williams, who had a game-high 26 points, scored eight of the Valkyries’ final nine points, going 6/6 from the free-throw line during that stretch.
The Valkyries, who closed the game on a 9-2 run, put the ball in Williams’ hands, and she got the job done.
She was the only Golden State player in double figures in Game 1.
“I’ve been in this situation, obviously, many times this season,” Williams said. “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.”
Angel Reese scored 11 of her 14 points in the first quarter and added 12 rebounds, but she went scoreless in the second half.
Reese, who went 0/2 from the field in the second half, said she needed to be more aggressive.
“I don’t think they really did anything,” she said. “Maybe that was just on me; I wasn’t aggressive enough with the ball and trying to get to the ball and get to my spots. Definitely going to do a better job of that next game.”
Both teams struggled offensively, with Atlanta shooting 33% from the field and Golden State shooting 32%.
Williams was limping late in the game but said afterward that she was fine.
Atlanta led much of the fourth quarter, giving the Dream reason to feel confident heading into Game 2 despite the loss.
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