The Golden State Valkyries captured the WNBA championship in just their second season, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the first Game Seven in league finals history. Gabby Williams delivered a 30-point performance to lead the Valkyries to victory and earned WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player honors.
Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half, including a crucial three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining that put Golden State ahead 60-57. Free throws from Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton sealed the win. "It's easy when the energy is this good and positive," Williams said, praising the team's culture of defence and rebounding. "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."
The Valkyries, formed in 2024, won before a sell-out crowd of more than 18,000 fans at San Francisco's Chase Center. For the Atlanta Dream, it marks a fourth finals loss in their 18-year history.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing