After the Atlanta Dream lost Finals Game 1 against the Golden State Valkyries, their head coach Karl Smesko had a simple comment to make: “We were right there!” While he was talking about their lost lead in the fourth quarter on Saturday, let me explain what the literal meaning of what he meant could/ would be…

What Smesko meant was that his team was right there in the eye of Valhalla. If them being the loudest crowd so far was not enough, Saturday just showed how Ballhalla came through with head coach Natalie Nakase’s “more hostility” request. A sea of violet covered the 18,000-strong Chase Center with the fans frantically loud long before the tip-off. I’d even say that the fourth-quarter turnaround might as well be because of that sixth man in the stands alongside Gabby Williams. Now, as they hope to improve their result before leaving for Atlanta, that very crowd can be the difference maker, which already has another request from Nakase – something that concerns WNBA journalist Jordan Robinson for the Dream.

“We’re looking at the box score, but Ballhalla, what type of stats did they put up?” Robinson said 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 one of the most oppressive environments for opposing teams. Golden State has sold out every home game since entering the league in 2025. They haven’t lost at home since August 19, a streak that continued into Game 1 of the Finals. The Dream, meanwhile, had not lost on the road since August 28.

On Saturday, the building remained undefeated.

Perhaps this could be because of Nakase’s challenge ahead of the game, where she asked Ballhalla to have a game plan of their own. Her request didn’t end there.

Natalie Nakase has another challenge for Ballhalla ahead of Game 2

“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,” she had said a day before Game 1.

It worked. And she observed it.

The crowd continued to reach a higher level as the game continued. The more the team pushed, the more the fans roared. It wasn’t lost on the head coach, but she needs more from the team’s sixth man.

“I did feel a different roar,” said Nakase after the game. “So great job! But hey, level up.

“We’ve got Game 2. It has to be better. We’re going to ask more from our players so … let’s get a better Game 2. Rest and recover, Ballhalla. Careful what you drink tonight.”

If you have cheered, neh roared, for your team, you know exactly what Nakase is talking about.

Despite the Atlanta Dream’s best efforts, the crowd and Golden State’s unrelenting defense seemed to overwhelm them at times. Even though 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.

The Valkyries turned the tables on Atlanta in a matter of minutes

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. Only time will tell if Nakase’s challenge is matched by the fans, but judging from Game 1, Atlanta has their work cut out for them.