Williams Leads Valkyries to First Title

Gabby Williams scored 30 points to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-63 victory over the Seattle Storm in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. The win secured the franchise's first championship in two seasons of existence. Williams earned Finals MVP honors for her dominant performance at Chase Center in San Francisco.

Her 28 points in the second half set a new WNBA playoff record for scoring in a single half. Her total of 30 points tied the record for the most points scored in a winner-take-all Finals game. The stat line included three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and four blocks.

The team overcame a 34-30 deficit in the third quarter to take control of the game. Williams drained a step-back three-pointer over DeWanna Bonner and later hit a three over Angel Reese. She followed those shots with a corner three and a baseline jumper to put the Valkyries ahead.

Late in the fourth quarter, Williams scored nine consecutive points to close out the series. The go-ahead basket was a 31-foot three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. The shot sent the arena into a frenzy and secured the lead for the Valkyries.

Owner Joe Lacob had promised a title within five years of the franchise's 2023 launch. The Valkyries became the fastest expansion team to win a championship in North American professional sports history. Lacob described the recruitment process as a feeling rather than a calculation, noting that he and Williams connected immediately during a phone call.

Williams joined the team as an unrestricted free agent after two seasons with the Seattle Storm. She led the Valkyries in scoring with a career-high 14.4 points per game during the regular season. She also made her second All-Star appearance and earned a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.

In the playoffs, Williams averaged 21 points per game, ranking third among players who advanced past the first round. She set Finals records for total points with 137 and total steals with 18. Her journey to this moment included a suspension with the Chicago Sky and a trade to Seattle, where she evolved into an All-Star.

Williams credited head coach Nat Mitchell for her late-game composure. She said Mitchell told her to stay patient and trust that the game would open up. The team plans to celebrate with a parade down the Embarcadero in San Francisco on Wednesday.