Golden State Valkyries claim WNBA title in 66-61 Game 7 win over Atlanta Dream
Gabby Williams scored 30 points, including a 13-point third-quarter run, to lead the second-year franchise to its first championship.
By Katherine Brooks ·
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 66-61 on Saturday night at Chase Center to capture the 2026 WNBA championship. The win in the winner-take-all Game 7 marks the franchise's first title in its second season of existence. Gabby Williams anchored the victory with 30 points, tying the single-game record for points scored in a decisive Finals matchup previously held by Penny Taylor.
The series reached its conclusion after Golden State advanced past the Dallas Wings in the first round and the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. The Valkyries entered the Finals as the league's top defensive unit. In all four games they won against Atlanta, they held the Dream to 70 points or fewer. That defensive standard proved decisive against a team that had averaged 91.3 points per game during the regular season.
Williams, who joined the team as a free agent earlier this year, struggled to find her rhythm in the first half. She made only one field goal before halftime when the Valkyries trailed 37-32. The momentum shifted midway through the third quarter when Williams scored 13 consecutive points. This run included three straight three-pointers that gave Golden State the lead. It was the first game in the series where the team leading at halftime did not win.
Williams finished the game shooting 10 for 23 from the floor and 4 for 8 from beyond the arc. She also recorded four blocks. Her performance extended a season of dominance where she led the team in scoring during both the regular season and the playoffs. The third-quarter surge energized the home crowd and established a lead the Dream could not overcome.
Point guard Veronica Burton provided a steady floor with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists. She shot 3 for 13 from the field but committed only two turnovers. With 5.1 seconds remaining, Burton stepped to the free-throw line and made the final shots to secure the championship. Center Kiah Stokes, a former Las Vegas champion, added 13 rebounds and 2 blocks in the final game. She finished the playoffs with 31 blocks.
Tiffany Hayes, a former UConn standout, contributed 11 points in her first career title game. Kaila Charles, who started during the Finals, added 4 points and 7 rebounds. The team's defensive effort was a collective operation that limited the Dream's high-scoring offense throughout the postseason. The victory caps a run that has established the Valkyries as a dominant force in the league's second year.
The franchise now holds four championships between its current roster members, including Stokes' three titles from her time in Las Vegas. Williams' performance in Game 7 solidifies her status as the primary difference-maker for the Bay Area squad. The team will return to the court next season with the aim of defending their new hardware.
Source: ESPN
