San Francisco — The Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship in only their second season, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a decisive Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at Chase Center. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 30 points, including the team’s final 11 points in the third quarter, and was named Finals MVP for her pivotal performance.
Williams, who returned to the Bay Area where she played youth basketball, praised the team’s close-knit culture and resilience after a series in which they overcame doubts about their star power. “All we heard last year was we don’t have no stars. We don’t have no talent. Yeah right! We got good people. We got winners,” Williams said following the victory.
Coach Natalie Nakase made significant strategic adjustments after Golden State fell behind 2-1 in the series. She introduced Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes into the starting lineup, while Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini provided key contributions off the bench. Hayes, a 37-year-old veteran guard who came out of retirement two years ago and spent a decade with the Dream, scored 11 points in the Game 7 victory and brought energy that Nakase said was critical to the team’s success.
Jordin Canada scored 18 points for Golden State, while Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 16 points. Angel Reese contributed eight points and 12 rebounds in her fourth finals appearance, but the Dream fell short of securing a championship. Reese reflected on the accomplishment nonetheless, noting the significance of making the finals with her teammates. Atlanta’s DeWanna Bonner also made history by becoming the first player in WNBA history to record 600 career postseason defensive rebounds.
The game featured several key moments in its final minutes. After Allisha Gray made two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, Atlanta forced a jump ball between Gray and Williams. Golden State’s Veronica Burton secured possession, then converted two free throws with just over five seconds left to extend the lead. Williams added crucial three-pointers and free throws in the closing minutes, while Kiah Stokes contributed with rebounds, blocks, and a late basket to seal the win.
Co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber expressed pride in the rapid success of the Valkyries franchise, which became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year and secured a championship in its sophomore season. Lacob pledged to build a “bigger trophy case” for the organization, joining the team’s achievement with the Golden State Warriors’ 2022 NBA title as emblematic of a new era for Bay Area basketball.
The sellout crowd at Chase Center erupted in celebration as confetti fell and the team embraced on the court, marking a historic night for the Valkyries and their fans.