The Golden State Valkyries spent two seasons hearing they had no stars. On Halloween night, Gabby Williams dressed up as one, and the costume fit perfectly.
The Valkyries knocked off the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Chase Center in San Francisco. The win delivered the franchise its first championship in only its second year of existence. Williams poured in 30 points, 28 of them after halftime, and walked away with Finals MVP honors.
A cold start for both sides
Nothing came easy early. Atlanta missed its first several shots, and Golden State jumped out to an eight-point lead before the Dream found their footing. Angel Reese and Allisha Gray got Atlanta going, and point guard Jordin Canada helped fuel a run that pushed the Dream ahead in the second quarter.
Then the Valkyries went ice cold. Golden State missed its first 10 attempts from 3-point range before Kayla Thornton finally connected late in the half, ending a field goal drought of more than seven minutes. Atlanta took a 30-24 lead into the locker room, and Williams had just two points.
GOLDEN STATE. GOLD STANDARD.
Your 2026 @WNBA Champions, the Golden State Valkyries. 🗣️ https://t.co/EMfe2SFGC4
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) November 1, 2026
Gabby Williams takes over
Coach Natalie Nakase told her star to stay patient. Williams listened, then lit the building up.
She scored 15 points in the third quarter alone, outscoring the entire Dream roster in that frame. According to Elias, she became the first player in WNBA history to score 15 straight points in a Finals game. Her run included three consecutive possessions ending in a made 3-pointer, a wild stat for a player who hit one triple during her entire college career at UConn. Golden State closed the third on a 17-3 surge, and Ballhalla, as fans call Chase Center, shook.
The Dream did not fold. Gray tied the game in the fourth, and the two teams traded blows until Williams buried a deep 3-pointer with a little over two minutes left. Golden State never trailed again, and Veronica Burton iced it at the free throw line.
Williams finished 10-for-23 from the field with four blocks, two steals and two assists. Her 28 second-half points set a WNBA record for a postseason half.
How the Valkyries built a champion so fast
This roster was stitched together through the expansion draft and players other teams let go. Nobody on the team made All-WNBA this season, making the Valkyries the first champion in league history without one. Owner Joe Lacob, who also owns the Golden State Warriors, personally recruited Williams while she was playing in Turkey last offseason. He promised fans a title within five years. He delivered in two.
Per Elias, the Valkyries are the third team across the NBA, BAA and WNBA to win a title within their first two seasons. Their defense held Atlanta to 33% shooting and 20% from deep. Kiah Stokes, Williams’ former UConn teammate, set the record for most blocks in Finals history with 19 for the series.
Game 7 marked the franchise’s 53rd straight sellout, with roughly 18,000 fans draped in violet.
Atlanta’s breakthrough stings
The loss cut deep for the Dream, who are still chasing their first title after four Finals trips. Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, Gray added 16, and Reese finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Veteran DeWanna Bonner became the first player in league history to reach 600 career postseason defensive rebounds.
Reese, in her first season in Atlanta after a trade from Chicago, called this group the most fun she has ever played with and promised the Dream will be back. With every starter under contract for next season, that promise carries weight.
For Williams, the night ended with a nod to Oakland legend Too $hort. Earlier in the playoffs, she led the crowd in a call and response borrowed from one of his classics. On Saturday, she announced a new favorite word. Champ.
