NEED TO KNOW

• The Golden State Valkyries are the 2026 WNBA Finals winners

• They beat the Atlanta Dream with a 68-63 victory at the Chase Center on Saturday, Oct. 31

• Valkyries’ Gabby Williams earned the finals MVP award after scoring 30 points

The Golden State Valkyries are capping off their second season in the league with a WNBA title.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Valkyries topped the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals, 68-63, to clinch the franchise’s first championship.

Gabby Williams racked up 30 points — 28 of which came in the second half — of the championship at the Chase Center. Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton’s free throws closed out the win.

“It’s easy when the energy is this good and positive,” said Williams, per the BBC. “I wouldn’t change a thing. All it took was good people. We have winners, we have people who are ready to put their bodies on the floor to win a game.

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“They don’t care about scoring,” she added, per the outlet. “They just want to do defense and rebounding. Do whatever it takes and we built a beautiful culture here.”

Led by star forward Williams, 30, the Valkyries rebounded in a major way Saturday after the Dream forced a Game 7 with their 80-69 victory on Thursday to even the series at three games apiece. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase took accountability for Golden State’s lackluster start in Game 6.

“I put that on me of like, what did I not say, what did I not get to my team of the sense of urgency that we knew they were going to play?” Nakase said, according to the Associated Press. “We knew they were going to play desperate. We knew they were going to play like their life depends on it. For us not to match that is disappointing and frustrating. So, yeah, I need to make sure my team is prepared.”

The Valkyries’ preparation ahead of the WNBA Finals led to Williams earning the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player award on Saturday.

“Gabby is our closer,”said coach Natalie Nakase, per ESPN. “Closing with 30, I mean, that’s f---ing incredible. And to me, the MVP is the Finals MVP. That means you’ve got to play through the playoffs. You’ve got to grind. You’ve got to go through a seven-game series. She’s the most valuable player in the world, hands down.”

The Valkyries have been a force in the WNBA since their inaugural season in 2025. They reached the playoffs last fall but lost in the first round.

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