SAN FRANCISCO: Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA championship in their second season on Saturday, beating Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 behind Gabby Williams’s 30 points at Chase Center.
Williams earned Finals Most Valuable Player honours as Golden State secured the series 4-3 in the Women’s National Basketball Association’s first Finals Game 7.
According to Elias Sports Bureau figures cited by the franchise, Golden State became the fastest expansion team since 1967 to win a championship across the WNBA and North America’s four major men’s professional leagues.
Atlanta led 30-24 at half-time, but Williams scored 28 points after the break. She supplied Golden State’s final 11 points of the third quarter before delivering again in the closing minutes.
When Rhyne Howard’s layup tied the score at 57 with 2:41 remaining, Williams answered with a three-pointer. She followed with two free throws with 1:40 left, while Kiah Stokes contributed a late basket. Veronica Burton then helped secure the title.
After Allisha Gray made two free throws with 11 seconds remaining, Atlanta forced a jump ball between Gray and Williams. Burton collected possession and converted both free throws with 5.1 seconds left.
Stokes finished with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Tiffany Hayes, who spent 10 seasons with Atlanta, added 11 points against her former team.
Jordin Canada led the Dream with 18 points, while Gray scored 16. Angel Reese contributed eight points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta fell short in its fourth Finals appearance.
“All it took was good people,” Williams said, crediting her teammates’ commitment and willingness to compete.
Coach Natalie Nakase had changed Golden State’s starting lineup after the team fell behind 2-1 in the series. Kaila Charles and Hayes moved into the starting five, with Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini coming off the bench.
A sellout crowd celebrated as confetti fell and players gathered on the court after the final buzzer.
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Co-owner Joe Lacob had promised a championship within five years when the Bay Area received its expansion franchise. Golden State delivered in year two, after becoming the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season in 2025.
(With additional input from The Associated Press.)
