Williams Leads Valkyries to First WNBA Title in Game 7 Thriller

Golden State Valkyries fans celebrated their franchise's first WNBA championship on Saturday night after a 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7. The win marked a historic milestone for the team, which reached the title in only its second season of existence.

Gabby Williams dominated the final stretch of the game to earn Finals MVP honors. She scored 28 of her 30 total points in the last 20 minutes, setting a record for the most points by a player in a single half of a WNBA Finals game.

The performance reversed a slow start for Williams, who scored just two points in the first half. In the third quarter alone, she added 15 points to lift Golden State to a 45-44 lead before the final period. Williams later scored nine consecutive points when the game was tied at 53, giving the Valkyries a lead they did not relinquish.

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

For the Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese recorded 12 rebounds but finished with only eight points. Despite the loss, Reese expressed confidence that her team would return to the championship stage in the future. "I’m really proud of the year that I had," Reese said. "I’ve done a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn’t be able to do it without this group."

Williams, 30, had previously played for the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm before joining the Valkyries. She also represented France at the FIBA World Cup in September, where her team lost to the United States. This championship is her first in the WNBA, following a college title and professional success in overseas leagues.

The series concluded with the Valkyries securing the title in the decisive Game 7. The victory caps a rapid rise for the Golden State franchise, which entered the league as a new expansion team.