In only their second season of existence, the Golden State Valkyries have claimed the WNBA championship, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a tense Game 7 to capture the first title in franchise history.
Saturday’s decisive victory capped an unprecedented postseason run and featured a historic performance from forward Gabby Williams, who scored 30 points and earned Finals MVP honors. As purple confetti rained onto the court, Williams credited head coach Natalie Nakase with keeping her steady after a quiet start.
“Nat told me to be patient in the first half. It was hard, but I listened to her. She’s right as always and she got us here,” Williams said, adding of her second-half explosion: “I wasn’t gonna lose on Halloween.”
Williams scored just two points in the first half before erupting for 15 points in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth, setting a WNBA postseason record for points in a half. Teammate Kiah Stokes anchored the paint with 13 rebounds, while fifth-year guard Veronica Burton directed the offense.
The championship represents the culmination of a deliberate roster overhaul following the team’s inaugural campaign. In their first-ever season, the expansion Valkyries finished 23-21 and reached the playoffs—marking the first time an expansion team made the postseason in its debut year. Ahead of the 2026 season, the front office signed Williams after her first All-Star appearance and added center Kiah Stokes in free agency from the Las Vegas Aces.
The strategic adjustments paid dividends during a grueling championship series. After Golden State took the opener, Atlanta responded with back-to-back double-digit blowout victories to claim a 2-1 series lead. In response, Nakase shortened her rotation and altered her starting lineup, heavily leaning on her core trio of Williams, Stokes, and Burton. The adjustments sparked two consecutive wins for the Valkyries before Atlanta staved off elimination in a Thursday afternoon Game 6.
That contest tipped off at 12:30 p.m. ET due to scheduling constraints at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, a venue significantly larger than the Dream’s regular home arena, which holds fewer than 4,000 spectators.
The title arrives amid a period of extraordinary growth for the organization, which shares principal ownership with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. In May, a valuation placed the franchise at $1 billion, making it the first WNBA team to reach that financial milestone. Operating out of the Chase Center—affectionately dubbed “Ballhalla” by supporters—the team has sold out every home game across its two seasons while leading the league in both average and total attendance.
With their first championship trophy secured, the Valkyries enter the offseason aiming to defend their crown when the league returns in 2027.
