Gabby Williams scored 30 points as Golden State beat Atlanta 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals.
The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions after outlasting the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 on Saturday night. Gabby Williams led the way with 30 points in a series that went the distance.
It is the first title in franchise history, and it came remarkably fast. Golden State joined the league as an expansion team in 2025 and needed just two seasons to reach the top of the sport. That makes the Valkyries the quickest expansion franchise to win a championship in WNBA history, and faster than any expansion team across the four major men's sports leagues. For comparison, the NHL's Golden Knights needed four seasons to win the Stanley Cup. Only MLS offers a faster turnaround, with the Chicago Fire winning that league's cup in their first year.
The win also fulfills a specific mandate. Team owner Joe Lacob, who leads the Golden State Group, challenged head coach Natalie Nakase when she was hired in 2024 to deliver a title within the franchise's first five seasons. She got it done in two.