Golden State Valkyries win first WNBA title, beating Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7

A first title decided in the last minutes

The Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship on Saturday, 31 October, beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco. It was the first Game 7 in league history. Before a crowd of 18,064, the Valkyries led 14-12 after the first quarter, but Atlanta held a six-point edge at the break. Golden State went into the fourth quarter ahead 45-44, and the teams traded baskets until the end. With 2 minutes and 14 seconds left, Gabby Williams hit a contested three-pointer that put the Valkyries up 60-57, and the Dream never caught up.

Williams carries the second half

Williams scored 2 points in the first half and 28 in the second, finishing with 30 and taking the Finals MVP award. Al Jazeera reports she became the first player in WNBA postseason history to score 28 points in a half. She also won a jump ball over Allisha Gray with 8.3 seconds left, and Veronica Burton was fouled with 5.1 seconds remaining before producing the final points. Williams, the team's only All-Star, was added as a free agent in the offseason. Speaking on court after receiving the award, she thanked the fans, the city and the wider Bay Area.

“When the energy is this good and positive, it's easy to come to work every day.”

First half2

Second half28

First half

2 points

Second half

28 points

Data from the article text

Reese's rebounding record is not enough

Angel Reese finished Game 7 with 8 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks, and she set the Finals record with 90 rebounds across the series. Atlanta had gone 16-0 this season when she hit a three-pointer, and she made one early in the second quarter of Game 7. She scored only three points in the final 29 minutes. Across the three Finals wins she averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. In the losses those figures fell to 9.3 points, 12 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and she shot 12 of 38 from the field.

Three Finals wins22

Finals losses9.3

Three Finals wins

22 points

Finals losses

9.3 points

Data from the article text

Reese came to Atlanta in a trade this offseason. She had never reached the postseason in her first two WNBA years with Chicago. She won a title at LSU in 2023 and helped USA Basketball win its fifth consecutive women's FIBA World Cup championship in September. After the game she said she would do it all over again with this group.

“I'd do it all over again with this group.”

Reese promised the team would be back, but Atlanta, seeking its first title in four Finals tries, went home without one.

An expansion team's fast rise

The Valkyries are a second-year franchise that joined the league through expansion as its 13th team. Their title makes them the fastest expansion team in WNBA history to win a championship. They beat Dallas in the first round, swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to reach the Finals, and then won a seven-game series against Atlanta. Early in October 2023, owner Joe Lacob made a bold promise at a news conference introducing the club.

“I'm telling you right now, we will win a WNBA championship in the first five years of this franchise.”

At the trophy ceremony Lacob shouted 'Ballhalla' into a live microphone to salute the capacity crowd, which has sold out every game in franchise history.