Williams leads Valkyries from halftime deficit to first WNBA title
Golden State won 68–63 against Atlanta in its second season. Gabby Williams’ 30-point finale crowned a series in which she also led the scoring and steals averages.
The Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA championship on 31 October, beating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Their second season ended with a title, but the deciding game required a recovery rather than a lead protected from start to finish. [1][2]
The Associated Press reported that Atlanta led 30–24 at halftime. The teams were still level late in the fourth quarter before Gabby Williams answered with a 3-pointer. Veronica Burton’s final free throws helped close the win. That account separates two jobs: overturning a first-half deficit, then finding enough scoring to decide a close finish. [2]
Williams finished with 30 points and was named Finals Most Valuable Player. Golden State’s championship announcement gives a broader measure of her contribution: she led the series with averages of 19.6 points and 2.6 steals per game, and reached double figures in six of the seven games. The last performance therefore capped a sustained series contribution, rather than supplying the only evidence behind the award. [1]
Golden State won the Finals four games to three after sweeping Las Vegas in the semifinals, according to the team’s account. The championship result is settled; it does not mean the final was settled early. Reading the game sequence beside the series figures shows both the work needed to recover on the night and the longer contribution that carried Williams to the MVP award. [1][2]
Photo credits
Zafer / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY4.0. Full-frame resize/recompression; social layout added where shown; no endorsement implied. · Archive photograph: Gabby Williams playing for Fenerbahçe against Galatasaray on 13 October 2024. It identifies the player; it does not show the Valkyries, the 2026 Finals or a championship celebration. · Licence
Sources & context · 2
- Golden State Valkyries
Official final score, first title in the franchise’s second season, Williams’ MVP and series averages, and playoff path.
- Associated Press / Janie McCauley
Independent reporting on the halftime deficit and close finish; syndicated copies share this origin.