Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta Dream to win first WNBA championship

By Ahmet Salih Alacaci

WASHINGTON (AA) — The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 on Saturday to win their first Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) championship in just their second season.

French international Gabby Williams led Golden State with 30 points in the decisive Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco, helping the team secure a 4-3 victory in the best-of-seven Finals series.

Williams scored 28 of her points in the second half, including a crucial three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining that put Golden State ahead for good.

Atlanta led 30-24 at halftime, but the Valkyries rallied in the third quarter, outscoring the Dream 21-14 to take a narrow lead into the final period.

Kiah Stokes contributed 13 rebounds for Golden State, while Veronica Burton made two late free throws to seal the victory.

The game marked the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, with the championship series expanded to a best-of-seven format in 2025.

Golden State, which joined the league in 2025, became WNBA champion in only its second year, denying Atlanta its first title.