Gabby Williams turned a two-point first half into the most dominant closing stretch of her career, erupting for 28 points after halftime to power the Golden State Valkyries past the Atlanta Dream, 68-63, in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night — delivering the franchise its first championship in only its second season and earning herself the Finals MVP trophy in the process.
The All-Star forward, who arrived in the Bay Area in April as one of free agency's most coveted players, capped a winding eight-year professional journey with the signature performance of her career — one that cemented her place in league history and validated the bold bet she made on herself and her new team.
A Second-Half Takeover for the Ages
For the first 20 minutes, Williams was nearly invisible on the scoreboard, managing just two points as Atlanta controlled the tempo of a tense, defensive Game 7. Then the French-American star flipped the script. Williams scored 28 of Golden State's points in the second half — taking 19 of the Valkyries' 34 shots after the break — and delivered her team's final points down the stretch to seal the 68-63 win.
Her 30-point outburst capped a postseason in which she was Golden State's engine throughout. Williams scored 26 points in a Game 1 win — including two clutch free throws with 4.1 seconds remaining — and averaged 24 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists through the first five games of the playoffs. She saved her biggest night for the last, a performance that teammates and coaches described as the product of months of trust and patience.
“I stayed patient,” Williams said after the game, reflecting on a title run that required the Valkyries to outlast a Dream team that had blown them out by 26 points in Game 3 and pushed the series the full seven games.
From Sparks, Nevada to the WNBA's Biggest Stage
Gabrielle Lisa Williams was born on September 9, 1996, in Sparks, Nevada, and her path to this moment was anything but a straight line. She starred at UConn, where she won back-to-back national championships in 2015 and 2016, before the Chicago Sky selected her with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA draft.
Williams was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2021 and later spent time in Seattle, where she blossomed into one of the league's premier two-way players. In 2025, she averaged career highs of 11.6 points and 4.2 assists while leading the entire WNBA in steals at 2.3 per game, earning her first All-Star selection and a spot on the All-Defensive First Team.
Internationally, Williams has long been one of France's most important players. She helped Les Bleues capture bronze at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and then starred at the Paris Games in 2024, averaging 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.8 steals as France won silver. In 2022, she was named EuroLeague Final Four MVP after leading her club to a championship.
A Free-Agency Move That “Changed the Entire Trajectory”
When WNBA free agency opened in April, Williams — who had been cored by the Seattle Storm the prior year — was among the most sought-after players on the market, with the Las Vegas Aces and Golden State among the finalists for her signature. She chose the Valkyries, signing a three-year contract reported at $3,748,500 on April 12.
The decision was deeply personal. Williams, whose family has roots in the Bay Area, framed the move as a homecoming. Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said Williams “has deep roots in the Bay Area, and she is coming home.”
“I just walked into a group full of love,” Williams said. “And that just changed the entire trajectory of my career.”
Making History in Golden State
The Valkyries, led by head coach Natalie Nakase, entered 2026 looking to build on an expansion debut that had already exceeded expectations. With Williams leading the way, Golden State finished 32-12 as the No. 2 seed in the West, and the veteran forward averaged a career-best 14.4 points per game while earning her second consecutive All-Star nod and a second straight All-Defensive First Team selection. She finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting behind Angel Reese.
In the playoffs, the Valkyries swept the defending champion Aces 3-0 in the semifinals to become the fastest expansion team in WNBA history to reach the Finals. After dropping Game 3 to Atlanta by 26 points, they rallied to force a decisive Game 7 — and Williams delivered, scoring 30 points in the Air Jordan 41 “Amethyst” colorway as one of Jordan Brand's most prominent faces in the women's game.
The championship made Golden State the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to win a title within its first two seasons, underscoring how quickly the Valkyries built a contender around Williams and a deep, selfless rotation.
What's Next for Williams and the Valkyries
At 30 years old, Williams appears to be entering the prime of a career that has finally yielded the one achievement that had eluded her. With a core that also includes guard Veronica Burton and a front office that has shown a willingness to spend and build aggressively, the Valkyries are positioned to contend again in 2027 — and Williams, under contract for two more seasons, has made clear she wants more than just one ring.
For now, the story is one of vindication: a player who once bounced between the WNBA and overseas leagues, who prioritized international commitments and waited patiently for the right opportunity, found it in Golden State and turned it into a championship.
The Bottom Line
- Gabby Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half to lead the Valkyries to a 68-63 Game 7 win over the Atlanta Dream.
- Williams was named WNBA Finals MVP after a career-best season in which she averaged 14.4 points and made her second All-Star team.
- The Valkyries became the first expansion team in WNBA history to win a title within its first two seasons.
- Williams signed a three-year, $3,748,500 deal with Golden State in April 2026 after stops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle and Olympic medals with France.
