Gabby Williams leads Golden State Valkyries to WNBA title in Game 7 thriller
The second-year team defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in San Francisco, capping a season where they overcame a nine-point third-quarter deficit.
By Larissa Shah ·
Gabby Williams scored 28 of her 30 points after the halftime break as the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night. The victory in San Francisco secured the championship for the Valkyries in their second season of play.
The game was a defensive struggle that saw neither team shoot well from beyond the arc. Golden State made only five of 20 three-point attempts while Atlanta went 6-for-30. The Valkyries led 8-0 in the sixth minute but trailed 37-28 in the sixth minute of the third quarter. Allisha Gray hit a short jumper with 5:14 remaining to tie the game at 53, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Williams took over the offense in the final minutes. She hit two free throws with 3:34 left and followed with a driving layup 32 seconds later, giving Golden State a two-point lead each time. Atlanta erased both leads before Williams hit a 31-foot three-pointer with 2:18 to play, putting the Valkyries ahead 60-57 for the final time. She added two more free throws to extend the lead.
Kiah Stokes provided the decisive basket late in the game. She tipped in a missed shot from Williams with 53 seconds remaining, giving Golden State a 64-57 advantage. The crowd at Chase Center, known as Ballhalla, erupted as the home team protected the lead through the closing seconds.
With 8.3 seconds left, Williams won a jump ball against Allisha Gray while Golden State held a 66-63 lead. Veronica Burton then drew a foul with 5.1 seconds remaining and made both free throws to seal the win. Burton finished with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Stokes had eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
For Atlanta, Jordin Canada led the team with 18 points. Gray added 16, and Angel Reese contributed eight points and 12 rebounds. The Dream blocked eight shots, including four by Williams, but their 33.3% overall shooting percentage proved insufficient. The Dream, which joined the league in 2008, has not won a championship in its 19 seasons. They also lost in the finals in 2010, 2011, and 2013.
Williams' 30 points were her second-highest playoff total, trailing only the 36 she scored in Game 2 against the Dallas Wings on Sept. 30. She shot 10-for-23 from the field. The Valkyries had rallied from a nine-point deficit in the third quarter to take a 45-44 lead entering the final 10 minutes, a momentum shift driven by Williams scoring the team's final 13 points of that period.
Celebrity supporters, including former San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds and Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, watched the final minutes from the stands. The win concludes the Valkyries' inaugural deep playoff run and gives the franchise its first league title.
