Valkyries Claim First WNBA Championship in Game 7

Golden State rallied from a nine-point deficit to defeat Atlanta in the decisive game of the WNBA Finals, earning the first championship in franchise history. It was the league’s first Finals to reach a Game 7 since the series format expanded to seven games last year. The Valkyries also became the quickest expansion team among major North American professional sports leagues to win a title, doing so in their second season.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 30 points and was named Finals MVP. She scored 28 after halftime, including three three-pointers in a rapid third-quarter stretch that helped erase Atlanta’s lead. Her long-range shot with just over two minutes remaining broke a tie and put the Valkyries ahead for good. Kiah Stokes grabbed a key offensive rebound and scored late to extend the lead.

Atlanta’s Jordin Canada scored a team-high 18 points, while Angel Reese had eight points and 12 rebounds. The Dream had taken a 2-1 series lead, but Golden State won Games 4 and 5 before Atlanta forced the decider with a Game 6 victory. The Valkyries finished the regular season 32-12, after going 23-21 in their debut year in 2025. The WNBA also set a regular-season attendance record in 2026, with 3.8 million fans across 330 games.