Well Game One was fun huh? Ready to do it all over again?

This is a WNBA Finals that no matter what the series score it, it does feel like it is going to be tight the entire way. So after what we saw in Game One, what might be the difference makers for either team in Game Two?

Game Two Preview in video form…

Game One Atlanta Dream Recap…

Game One Golden State Valkyries Recap…

Admittedly coming into this series, the intensity of either team was not something I thought I would have to be worried about. But after Game One, I do feel like there are reasonable questions to ask about the energy level of the Dream.

They have set an incredibly high standard for themselves over the course of these WNBA Playoffs for the intensity they play with for all 40 minutes. That full 40 did not appear in Game One. The first quarter notably looked the most like the Playoff Dream but there felt to be a bit of a drop-off as the game continued on.

It is hard to put my finger on the why to it. This is a team that I didn’t expect to be phased by Ballhalla, and maybe they weren’t, but if anything I expected them to be fueled by the energy in the building. There was frustration on the court, we rarely saw moments of teammates really gassing each other up in the way we have these Playoffs, it all just felt a little bit off. Again, this has been a high standard set by the Dream over the course of this run, so I am holding them to it, and feeling more like themselves can make the difference in what projects to be another tight Game Two.

If you have logged onto WNBA Social Media at any point since the conclusion of Game One, you have probably seen some type of post regarding Rhyne Howard. It has been largely inescapable as the #discourse that came from Game One. So the simple question to ask (in my best Michael Irvin voice) WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO ABOUT IT?

Simply put Rhyne Howard has to be better. Offensively she really struggled to get going, and frankly that has been the large theme for her during these Playoffs. During this postseason she is shooting 30.7% from the field and 30.2% from three. You factor in the Valkyries defense to this all and you can only assume it is going to be MORE difficult this series.

Defensively I wouldn’t say Howard had a bad game. But when your matchup in Gabby Williams is able to get rolling while you are not it certainly isn’t a good game either.

This is an Atlanta team that ultimately is built around Rhyne Howard. This era started with her being drafted #1, and they are going to need more from her to see that payoff in a WNBA Championship this year.

It is no secret that both of these teams can slow up on the offensive side of the ball at times. Both teams in this game suffered quarters where they put up single digit points. That is just the reality of this series.

For Golden State, their way to counteract that has been their pure shot volume. They have been able to find extra opportunities all postseason and that didn’t change in Game One. It was different from the pure dominance of the Aces series but the offensive rebounding and total rebounding advantage was in favor of the Valkyries. Same with the turnovers as they had a slight edge in that margin over the Dream.

Ultimately it totaled 14 more shot attempts for the Valkyries. With both teams shooting bad percentages, the shot volume becomes incredibly important. The Dream are capable of winning both the rebound and turnover battles in this series and it might be the box score items that define games the most in these WNBA Finals.

How coach Natalie Nakase has the Valkyries on cusp of history in WNBA Finals by Kendra Andrews, ESPN

Angel Reese Isn’t Who You Thought She Was by Seerat Sohi, The Ringer

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