Valkyries win first title in second season with 68-63 Game 7 victory
Gabby Williams scored 30 points to lead the Golden State Valkyries past the Atlanta Dream, fulfilling owner Joe Lacob's promise to win a championship within five years.
By Fatima Davis ·
The Golden State Valkyries secured a WNBA championship in their second season of play. The team defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the finals on Saturday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Gabby Williams anchored the victory with a game-high 30 points. She scored the final 11 points for her team in the third quarter and maintained control during the fourth. Williams joined Penny Taylor as the only players in WNBA history to score at least 30 points in a decisive finals game.
The Dream had led 30-24 at halftime. Atlanta's Jordin Canada finished with 18 points, while Allisha Gray contributed 16. Angel Reese added eight points and 12 rebounds. The franchise finished fourth attempts at a title without a win in the series finale.
With 11 seconds remaining, Gray made two free throws to narrow the margin. The Dream forced a jump ball, which Veronica Burton secured. She then converted two free throws with 5.1 seconds left to preserve the Golden State lead. Burton, who was cut by Dallas two years ago, described the moment as insane.
Coach Natalie Nakase adjusted the starting lineup after Golden State fell behind 2-1 in the series. She inserted Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes, moving Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini to the bench. Hayes, a 37-year-old who returned to the league two years ago, scored 11 points in Game 7. She played 10 seasons with the Dream before her recent stint with Golden State.
Kiah Stokes recorded 13 rebounds and two blocked shots in the final game. This marks her fourth WNBA championship. The team's performance fulfilled a guarantee made by owner Joe Lacob three years ago, when he pledged a title within the franchise's first five years. The Valkyries became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural year in 2025.
During the victory ceremony, Lacob thanked the fans who have sold out Chase Center for every game since the team's arrival. He described the team's resilience and the contribution of every player. The violet-clad crowd celebrated as confetti fell from the rafters, marking the first women's championship for the venue alongside the Golden State Warriors' 2022 title.
Source: Stamford Advocate
