Gabby Williams delivers the Valkyries’ breakthrough as Angel Reese and Atlanta fade in Game 7

Gabby Williams delivers the Valkyries’ breakthrough as Angel Reese and Atlanta fade in Game 7
Golden State’s first WNBA championship came down to a familiar playoff question: which team’s stars could withstand the pressure of a decisive Game 7? The Valkyries found their answer in Gabby Williams; Atlanta never found enough offense from Angel Reese.

The Valkyries erased a nine-point deficit and defeated the Dream 68-63 on Saturday, winning the Finals 4-3. Williams scored 30 points, including 28 after halftime, while her late three-pointer broke a 57-57 tie. The result gave Golden State a title in only its second season and made it the first team to win a WNBA Finals Game 7.

From the more celebratory perspective, the victory validated a rapid rebuild. Golden State had only one All-Star but went 32-12 in the regular season before beating Dallas and Las Vegas to reach the Finals. Williams, who had been questioned alongside the rest of the roster, answered those doubts bluntly: “We got good people. We got winners.” The championship also capped a season in which the league reported record attendance and sharply higher television viewership, strengthening the case that the WNBA’s growth is no longer merely prospective.

Atlanta’s account is less triumphant and more accusatory of missed opportunities. The Dream led the series 2-1 after Reese produced 51 points and 28 rebounds across Games 2 and 3, but she struggled badly over the final four contests. In Game 7, she scored eight points, committed four turnovers and managed only one fourth-quarter point. The conservative framing places the burden squarely on the star: “The Atlanta Dream needed more from her with a championship on the line.”

That contrast captures the series. Golden State’s depth—Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes all made decisive contributions—absorbed a quiet night from its supporting cast. Atlanta, despite 18 points from Jordin Canada, could not overcome 33.3% shooting and a 6-for-30 performance from three-point range. The Dream’s run proved it belonged in the championship conversation; the Valkyries’ response proved belonging was not the same as finishing.