Golden State Valkyries Win WNBA Title, Defeating Atlanta Dream in Game 7

The Golden State Valkyries captured their first WNBA championship on Saturday night by defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a tense Game 7 of the WNBA Finals at the Chase Center. The victory marked a milestone for the franchise in just its second year of existence, while extending the championship drought for the Dream, who have now fallen short in all four of their WNBA Finals appearances.

Atlanta controlled much of the first half, carrying a 30-24 advantage into halftime after holding the Valkyries scoreless for more than five minutes during the second quarter. However, Golden State responded after the break, outscoring the Dream 21-14 in the third quarter to seize momentum in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with a game-high 30 points along with four blocks, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, Jordin Canada and Allisha Gray paced the Dream with 18 and 16 points, respectively, but Atlanta struggled to find consistent offensive production down the stretch.

Atlanta star Angel Reese finished Game 7 with eight points, 12 rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist on 3-of-7 shooting from the field. Despite her historic postseason run—which included becoming the first player in WNBA Finals history to total over 100 points and 50 rebounds in a single series—Reese and teammate Rhyne Howard faced difficulties generating offense in the decisive contest.

Following the final buzzer, cameras captured an emotional moment as Reese walked off the court alongside her mother. Speaking to reporters after the game, Reese reflected on the tough loss while maintaining an optimistic outlook for the franchise.

"I mean, yeah, it's tough, especially with the good group, great group, that I've honestly had an honor to battle with all year. They changed my life, and I'm just so grateful for them," Reese said. "It is tough in the moment, but we'll be back."

The conclusion of the series also brought back-and-forth reactions from players regarding a viral taunt. Earlier in the series when Atlanta took a 2-1 lead, Reese performed the "Too Small" gesture toward the Golden State bench. After securing the championship, several Valkyries players, including Aminata Gueye and Tiffany Hayes, playfully turned the taunt back on Reese on social media.

Despite the disappointing finish, Reese completed a remarkable third WNBA season that included Defensive Player of the Year honors and averages of 16.1 points and 11.0 rebounds per game across the postseason. With a young roster in place, the Dream remain confident in their potential for future championship runs.