The Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship in franchise history after defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. The victory comes in just the franchise’s second season, propelled by a historic 30-point performance from Finals MVP Gabby Williams.

After trailing by six points entering the locker room at halftime, Golden State mounted a fierce second-half comeback orchestrated almost entirely by Williams. The 30-year-old star exploded for 28 of her 30 points in the final 20 minutes, breaking the WNBA Finals record for the most points scored in a single half. Williams notched 15 points in the third quarter alone, shifting the momentum and handing the Valkyries a 45-44 lead heading into the final frame.

With the deciding contest locked at 53-53 in the fourth quarter, Williams took control down the stretch, scoring nine straight points for Golden State. Her run was punctuated by a deep 3-pointer with 2:18 remaining to establish a 60-57 advantage that the Valkyries protected through the final buzzer. In addition to her offensive heroics, the Defensive Player of the Year runner-up anchored Golden State on the opposite end of the floor with four blocks.

The triumph marks Williams’ first career WNBA title following previous stints in Chicago and Seattle. The milestone also provides an elusive championship breakthrough after heartbreaking one-point international defeats representing France at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the women’s FIBA World Cup.

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