Valkyries Win WNBA Title in Year Two: Gabby Williams’ 30 Points Turn Game 7 Against Atlanta
· News Team
SAN FRANCISCO, October 31, 2026 — The Golden State Valkyries have won the WNBA championship in only their second season, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in a winner-take-all Game 7 at Chase Center. The defining performance came from Gabby Williams, who finished with 30 points after scoring just two in the first half.
The result settled the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history under the best-of-seven championship format. It also gave Golden State its first league title and left Atlanta still searching for a first championship after four Finals appearances. The final score and the key late-game sequence were reported by the Associated Press and covered in the Guardian’s live game report.
How Williams changed the game
Atlanta led 30–24 at halftime, but Williams produced 28 second-half points. Her third-quarter surge erased the Dream’s advantage and gave the Valkyries a platform for a tight finish. Golden State did not simply cruise from there: Atlanta tied the score at 57–57 with 2:41 remaining, before Williams hit a critical three-pointer and added free throws. Kiah Stokes contributed a late basket, while Veronica Burton made two free throws in the closing seconds to protect the lead.
The decisive stretch mattered for two reasons. First, Williams turned an uneven first-half offensive showing into a championship-winning individual performance. Second, Golden State’s defense and rebounding kept the game within reach until that surge arrived. Stokes finished with 13 rebounds and two blocks, according to the AP report.
What Atlanta did well — and where the game turned
Atlanta had the better opening half and remained dangerous deep into the fourth quarter. Jordin Canada led the Dream with 18 points, Allisha Gray added 16, and Angel Reese recorded eight points and 12 rebounds. Those contributions made this a contest rather than a procession. But Atlanta could not convert its late equalizer into a sustained lead, while Williams repeatedly supplied the answer at the other end.
Why a second-season title matters
Golden State’s speed of ascent is the bigger story beyond the final possession. The expansion franchise had already established itself as a playoff team in its debut year; a championship in Year Two suggests its roster construction and defensive identity matured unusually quickly. It is too early to call that a dynasty, but the result changes the standard against which the Valkyries will be measured next season.
Video verification: No exact-event, officially authorized YouTube highlight with a confirmed October 31 upload and embed permission was verified at publication time. For the official game record and any league-provided video when available, see the WNBA Game 7 page. We have not embedded footage from another date.
Game 7: verified facts
- Final: Golden State Valkyries 68, Atlanta Dream 63 (October 31, 2026).
- Decisive player: Gabby Williams scored 30 points, including 28 in the second half.
- Historical context: Golden State won its first WNBA championship in its second season.
Primary source: Golden State Valkyries’ official Game 7 recap. The game details above are independently cross-checked against the league’s WNBA Finals recap.
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Featured image: illustrative basketball photograph by Winston Chen / Unsplash. It does not depict this WNBA Finals game.
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