Gabby Williams scores 30 as Golden State completes a rapid rise from expansion team to champion
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions in just their second season.
Gabby Williams scored 30 points and the Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at Chase Center, closing out a series that went the distance.
Golden State trailed 30-24 at halftime but took over after the break, outscoring Atlanta 44-33 in the second half. Williams shot 10-of-23 from the field, hit four 3-pointers, went a perfect 6-of-6 at the free-throw line and added four blocked shots.
Veronica Burton posted a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Kiah Stokes grabbed 13 rebounds, and Tiffany Hayes added 11 points.
Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, and Allisha Gray scored 16. Angel Reese finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. The Dream struggled from deep, making just 6 of 30 3-point attempts, while Golden State went 15-of-16 from the line and blocked eight shots.
The Valkyries won Games 1, 4 and 5 before Atlanta forced a deciding game with an 80-69 win in Atlanta on Thursday.
The title caps a remarkable climb for a franchise that began play in 2025 as the WNBA’s first expansion team since 2008. Owner Joe Lacob had confidently declared the team would win a championship within its first five seasons — a promise kept three years early.
Golden State, the No. 2 seed under head coach Natalie Nakase, reached the Finals after sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Atlanta, the No. 4 seed, was back in the Finals for the first time since 2013 and was also seeking its first championship.
