The Golden State Valkyries have claimed their first WNBA championship title, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a hard-fought Game 7 at Chase Center on Saturday evening to cap off the 2026 season.
The victory marks a remarkable milestone for the California franchise, which has completed only two seasons in the league. Entering Saturday’s deciding contest, the series was deadlocked at 3-3. The Valkyries had previously mounted a comeback after falling into a 2-1 deficit against Atlanta, winning two consecutive games before dropping Game 6 to force the final showdown.
This championship run contrasts sharply with the team’s inaugural 2025 campaign. In their debut year, the Valkyries made history as the first WNBA expansion team to clinch a playoff berth and established a record number of wins for an expansion franchise. However, their first season ended on a bittersweet note when they faltered in the postseason against the Minnesota Lynx.
The path to this year’s finals also featured notable milestones, including earlier in October when the Valkyries secured their first-ever playoff victory at Chase Center by defeating the Dallas Wings 104-80, ultimately paving the way for Saturday’s decisive title-winning performance.
