Valkyries win first title as Gabby Williams takes over Game 7

A second-season champion

Gabby Williams had two points at halftime and a championship to win. By the final buzzer, she had 30, the Finals MVP award and the Golden State Valkyries' first WNBA title. Golden State defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 Saturday at Chase Center, winning the series 4-3 in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.

Williams scored 28 of Golden State's 44 second-half points, a WNBA Finals record for a second half, according to the team's recap and Yahoo Sports' Jack Baer. She also finished with four blocks and two steals. A franchise that began play in 2025 had its championship in year two, with its leading scorer influencing the game at both ends.

The possessions that settled it

Atlanta led 30-24 at halftime. Williams scored 15 in the third quarter to help Golden State take a 45-44 lead into the fourth. But the Dream kept answering. Rhyne Howard's driving layup tied it at 57 with 2:41 remaining, leaving the championship to a handful of possessions.

Williams supplied the separation. With 2:18 left, she made a 31-foot three off Veronica Burton's pass. Two free throws at 1:40 pushed the lead to five. Then Kiah Stokes gave Golden State three attempts on one trip: she collected a Williams miss with 1:06 left, rebounded another at 55 seconds and tipped it in a second later. Her persistence on the glass turned a potential empty possession into a 64-57 lead.

Atlanta still cut the margin to three. After Allisha Gray's two free throws with 11 seconds left, the Dream forced a jump ball between Gray and Williams. Burton secured the tip and made both ensuing free throws. Golden State converted 15 of 16 at the line for the game, giving Atlanta little help in the final possessions.

Defense kept the title within reach

The Valkyries won despite shooting 37.5 percent from the field and making only five threes. Their defense kept that modest offense competitive: Atlanta finished 23-for-69 from the floor and 6-for-30 from three. Golden State blocked eight shots. Williams accounted for four, including a rejection of Jordin Canada's layup with 4:09 left in a tied game; Atlanta's possession ended in a shot-clock turnover five seconds later.

Stokes finished with eight points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. Burton added 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Tiffany Hayes scored 11. Canada led Atlanta with 18 points, Gray had 16, and Angel Reese finished with eight points and 12 rebounds. Howard scored six on 3-for-14 shooting.

Golden State needed Williams' shot-making to break the late tie, but the finish also depended on securing rebounds and converting free throws. Stokes' two offensive boards on the same possession and Burton's recovery of the jump-ball tip kept Atlanta from getting the stops it needed. Those quieter plays helped turn Williams' exceptional half into a championship.