Golden State Valkyries Win WNBA Championship in Historic Game 7

The Golden State Valkyries made WNBA history on Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a tense Game 7 to capture their first championship in only their second year of existence. Played in front of a packed crowd at home, the decisive matchup marked the first Game 7 in the 30-year history of the WNBA finals.

Led by head coach Natalie Nakase, who became the league's first Asian-American head coach in 2025, the Valkyries overcame a nine-point deficit in the second half. The victory also featured a historic performance from Finals MVP Gabby Williams, who scored 30 points, including 28 in the final two quarters and the team's final 13 points of the third period.

Williams joined an elite group of former UConn stars, including Kiah Stokes, Tiffany Hayes, and Kaitlyn Chen, who all played vital roles in securing the championship. Stokes anchored the defense with 13 rebounds and two blocks, holding Atlanta's Angel Reese to just eight points. Hayes contributed 11 points after returning from retirement to join the expansion team.

Kaitlyn Chen also etched her name in the league's history books, becoming the first Taiwanese-American player to win a WNBA championship. Selected 30th overall in the 2025 draft, Chen fought her way onto the roster during training camp and developed into a reliable contributor off the bench for Golden State.

The championship run validated the ambitions of the franchise's ownership, fulfilling a prediction that the team would contend for a title within its first five years. Nakase praised her roster's resilience following the emotional victory, highlighting the hard work and dedication of her players throughout the grueling seven-game series.

For the Atlanta Dream, the loss marked their fourth defeat in the WNBA Finals, having previously fallen short in 2010, 2011, and 2013. Despite a game-high 18 points from Jordin Canada and 16 points from Allisha Gray, the Dream could not contain Williams' offensive surge in the second half.

As the Valkyries celebrated their improbable title on the court, veterans like Hayes emphasized the broader significance of the victory for the sport. "This is what happens when you invest in women's sports," Hayes said during the trophy presentation.