Golden State Valkyries Win First WNBA Title Behind Gabby Williams Performance

Historic Win for Golden State

The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions for the first time. The team claimed the trophy on Saturday night in San Francisco, beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the finals.

This championship victory comes in just the second season of existence for the franchise. Gabby Williams led the effort for Golden State, finishing with 30 points and earning finals MVP honors.

Williams Explodes in Second Half

Williams had a slow start to the game, scoring only two points in the first half as Golden State fell behind by six points. Everything changed after the break. Williams followed advice from her coach, Natalie Nakase, who told her to remain patient.

Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the final 20 minutes of the game. That performance set a new WNBA Finals record for the most points scored in a single half.

"I love moments like this," Williams said after the game. She added that Nakase told her to be patient in the first half, and she listened to her.

Taking Control Late

The third quarter belonged to Williams. She scored 15 points during those ten minutes, pushing Golden State to a 45-44 lead heading into the final period.

With the score tied at 53 in the fourth quarter, Williams scored nine straight points for Golden State. Her scoring run featured a deep three pointer that put the Valkyries ahead 60-57 with 2:18 remaining. Golden State never gave up the lead after that shot.

Defense and Career Milestones

Williams also made her presence felt on defense. The runner up for the league Defensive Player of the Year award helped set the tone early by finishing with four blocks.

At 30 years old, this marks the first WNBA title for Williams. She previously played for Chicago and Seattle before joining the Valkyries this season.

Williams has won championships in college and overseas during her career. However, she recently suffered close losses on the international stage, including a one point defeat to the United States while playing for France in the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as a loss in the FIBA World Cup this past September. This time, she made sure her team came away with the win.