Kaila Charles got in position for her most important rebound of the season. Her Golden State Valkyries were clinging to a two-point lead in the closing seconds of Saturday's Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, with Atlanta's Angel Reese, the league's top rebounder the past three years, waiting for a potential tying putback. Charles boxed her out and grabbed the miss, leading to two free throws by Gabby Williams that sealed the opener. In all, Charles grabbed three defensive rebounds in the final 1 minute, 7 seconds of a close, intense game.
"Kai is all about heart and hustle," Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said. "We've really been leaning on [her] in moments when she comes in. She changes the game." Charles is one of several players making an impact in the Finals who might not have been instant stars when they arrived in the league but have found the right fit. Others, such as Atlanta's Jordin Canada, have been successful in the past but have now fully stepped into the spotlight this postseason. In Monday's Game 2, Canada registered 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds to help the Dream even the series 1-1 with a 79-65 victory.
Gabby Williams maintains it's less about her blossoming and more about her not being given respect in the past. Her statistical impact has never been bigger, and her popularity is at its zenith with Valkyries fans. After being drafted by the Chicago Sky out of UConn, Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks and later the Storm, where she broke out last season, playing all 44 games, making her first All-Star Game and averaging career highs. After signing with Golden State, she improved her scoring average to a career-best 14.4 points and led the Valkyries with 26 points in Game 1 of the Finals.
Nakase praised Williams' intensity, noting that her "killer" mode rises every game and that she asked to be challenged directly. Canada, meanwhile, has started more than 70% of her games across a nine-year career, but has never shone so brightly as she has in 2026. Atlanta coach Karl Smesko called her "everything you'd want from a point guard."
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing