Valkyries End Dream's Run With Record-Breaking Game 7 Victory

The Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship on Saturday night, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7. The victory concludes a two-season franchise history that ended with a title in the team's second year of existence.

Gabby Williams anchored the win with a performance that set a new standard for the postseason. She finished with 30 points, scoring 28 of them in the final 20 minutes. This total represents a WNBA Finals record for the most points scored in a single half. Williams earned Finals MVP honors for her effort.

The team trailed by six points at halftime after Williams scored only two points in the first 20 minutes. She responded with 15 points in the third quarter, giving Golden State a 45-44 lead heading into the fourth. When the score tied at 53, Williams scored nine consecutive points to break the deadlock. The Valkyries maintained their lead for the remainder of the game.

Williams, 30, joined the Valkyries after stints with the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm. She previously won a college title and played overseas. Her quest for a gold medal ended in September when France lost to Team USA at the FIBA World Cup.

Williams credited her coaching staff for her second-half surge. "I love moments like this," Williams said. "[Coach] Natalie [Nakase] told me to be patient in the first half. I listened to her."

Angel Reese led the Dream with 12 rebounds, though she scored only eight points. After the final buzzer, Reese expressed confidence that Atlanta would return to the championship series. "I'm really proud of the year that I had," Reese said. "I've done a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn't be able to do it without this group.. I think it also sucks because our fan base back home poured into us so much this year, and we really wanted to do it for them. But we're forever grateful, and like I said, we'll be back."