WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham shared her thoughts on Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams amid the 2026 WNBA Finals.

The Valkyries are one step closer to winning the WNBA title in their second-ever season in the league, picking up a 68-64 win over the Atlanta Dream at home in Game 1.

The Valkyries’ success this season has been enabled by Williams, the former Seattle Storm forward, who the Valkyries paid $3.7 million in free agency to sign. Now, she has strongly established herself as one of the best players in the world over the 2026 season.

Sophie Cunningham thinks Gabby Williams is the perfect No. 1 option

Cunningham spoke on her podcast, the ‘No Hesitation Show,’ about Williams’ impact, highlighting her ability to not only lead from a production standpoint, but also as a leader who can galvanise the locker room.

“When your best player, regardless of how they’re playing, is making sure her teammates are feeling confident, that she is bringing good vibes to the huddle, that is huge. You have got to put the team first, and I think Gabby Williams is a great example of doing that.”

“We all know that Gabby Williams is an absolute beast. She is so hard to guard, a phenomenal player, and a great teammate, is what I’ve heard.”

Williams averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals in the regular season as a standout defender with reliable offensive production. However, she has taken the mantle of GSV’s No. 1 option in the postseason by averaging 23.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals.

Williams was the perfect star addition to coach Natalie Nakase’s defence-first system as a former All-Defensive selection who averaged over 2 steals per game in her last season with the Storm.

She led the Valkyries in scoring in the regular season and also finished as the runner-up in the DPOY race behind Angel Reese. Her defensive ability was never in doubt, but her emergence as a true offensive star in the postseason shows how dangerous she is.

Cunningham is a free agent and might want to play alongside Williams on the Valkyries, so her praise could also mean Sophie is trying to secure her future in the WNBA on a contending-caliber team.