Golden State made history on Saturday night. The Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 at a sold-out Chase Center in the first Game 7 ever played in the WNBA Finals, winning the franchise’s first championship in just its second season — in front of 18,064 fans and a shower of violet confetti.
The speed of the rise is staggering. Golden State is now the fastest expansion team to win a title among the NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLB and NFL, and only the third team across the NBA, BAA and WNBA to win a Finals within its first two seasons, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Remarkably, the Valkyries also became the first league champion ever to win a title without a single All-WNBA selection that season — a validation of collective depth over star power.
Gabby Williams was the difference-maker and was named Finals MVP. She poured in 30 points, 28 of them after halftime — the most points in any half of a postseason game in WNBA history. She scored 15 straight points spanning the third and fourth quarters, the first player in WNBA history to do so in a Finals game, and her 31-foot triple with about 2:18 left put Golden State ahead for good. Her jump-ball win with eight seconds remaining sealed it.
Atlanta controlled the first half, leading 30-24 at the break, but the Valkyries flipped the game after halftime, outscoring the Dream 21-14 in the third quarter and 23-19 in the fourth. Veronica Burton added 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists, Tiffany Hayes scored 11, and Kiah Stokes chipped in 8 points and 13 rebounds — her fourth WNBA title. For the Dream, Jordin Canada led with 18 points, Allisha Gray added 16, and Angel Reese posted 8 points and 12 rebounds.
Owner Joseph Lacob set a goal in 2023 of winning a title within five years. His team needed just two. A franchise that did not exist two seasons ago is now the champion of the WNBA.
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Bhudev Bhagaliya is an experienced and senior journalist who has carved a distinct niche for himself in the world of Hindi journalism through his profound understanding and precise writing style. With over two decades of experience in the field of journalism, he has held key responsibilities at Dainik Hindustan for 12 years and at Amar Ujala for one year. Currently, he serves as the Content Editor for the Jagrook Youth News newspaper and portal, where he plays a crucial role in ensuring the quality and credibility of the news content. Bhudev Bhagaliya consistently writes about issues that help raise awareness within society and among the younger generation.