Golden State Valkyries Are WNBA Champions

The Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship by beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals. It was the team's second season in the league. The Dream, meanwhile, came up short in the championship once again, in their fourth attempt.

Gabby Williams was the star of the match. The French player scored 30 points in the game. After scoring only two points in the first half, Williams scored 15 points in the third quarter to give her team a 45-44 lead. She became one of only two players in WNBA history to score 30 or more points in a Finals game that decided the title, with the winning team playing in that game. The other was Penny Taylor.

Williams's road to the title was not easy. She had tasted championship success during her college years, but with the French national team she lost to the United States by one point in the gold medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She experienced the same heartbreak against the US at the Women's FIBA World Cup in September. This time, Williams did not miss her chance on the WNBA's biggest stage.

Other players also made important contributions. For the Dream, Jordin Canada scored 18 points and Allisha Gray added 16. Angel Reese supported her team with 8 points and 12 rebounds. Williams also stood out on defense, recording four blocks. In the final stretch, with the score tied 53-53, Williams started a nine-point run and, with 2:18 left, her three-pointer made it 60-57. The Valkyries held on to that advantage until the final minute to lift the trophy.