Golden State Valkyries Win First WNBA Title in Game 7 Thriller

The Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship on Saturday night, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals. The victory marks the franchise’s first title in only its second season of existence.

Gabby Williams delivered a decisive performance, earning Finals MVP honors. She scored a WNBA Finals record for most points in a single half, finishing with 30 total points. Williams scored only two points in the first half but erupted for 15 in the third quarter alone.

With the Valkyries trailing by six points at halftime, Williams shifted the momentum. She scored nine consecutive points after the game was tied at 53, giving her team a lead it never relinquished. The team entered the fourth quarter with a 45-44 advantage after her third-quarter surge.

Williams, 30, previously played for the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm before joining the Valkyries in Ballhalla. This is her first WNBA championship. She also won a college title and has played overseas, though she lost to Team USA in the FIBA World Cup in September.

“I love moments like this,” Williams said after the game. “[Coach] Natalie [Nakase] told me to be patient in the first half. I listened to her.”

Angel Reese of the Dream finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Despite the loss, Reese vowed the team would return to the Finals. “I’m really proud of the year that I had,” Reese said. “I’d do a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without this group. I love these girls. I love the coaches.”

Reese acknowledged the emotional weight of the loss for the home crowd. “It also sucks because our fan base back home poured into us so much this year, and we really wanted to do it for them. But we’re forever grateful, and like I said, we’ll be back.”