Williams' 28-Point Surge Caps Valkyries' 68-63 Title Win

Gabby Williams scored 28 points in the final 20 minutes to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday night. The win completed a Game 7 series conclusion that granted the Valkyries their first WNBA championship in franchise history.

The team achieved the title in its second season of existence. Williams, 30, earned Finals MVP honors after recording a WNBA Finals record for the most points scored in a single half. She outscored the Dream in the fourth quarter after a sluggish first half where she managed only two points.

Williams credited her coach for the adjustment. “I love moments like this,” Williams said. “[Coach] Natalie [Nakase] told me to be patient in the first half. I listened to her.” The team trailed by six points at halftime but flipped the lead to 45-44 by the end of the third quarter.

Williams provided the momentum shift with a nine-point run that broke a 53-53 tie. She finished with 30 points on the night, including 15 in the third quarter. Her previous professional stops included the Chicago Sky and the Seattle Storm before she joined the Valkyries in Ballhalla.

The Dream’s Angel Reese recorded 12 rebounds but finished with eight points. Reese stated that the group would return to the Finals. “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 love these girls. I love the coaches.”

Reese also acknowledged the support from Atlanta fans. “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.”

Williams had previously won a college championship and played overseas. She competed for France in the FIBA World Cup in September, where her team lost to the United States. The Valkyries now hold the trophy heading into the 2027 season.