Golden State Valkyries win WNBA title in Game 7 thriller

The Golden State Valkyries claimed the WNBA championship on Saturday night in San Francisco, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7. The victory marks the team's first title in its second season of existence. Gabby Williams was the primary driver of the win, finishing with a game-high 30 points. She scored 28 of those points during the second half of the contest.

The game featured intense defensive pressure from both sides, resulting in low scoring totals. Neither team shot well from the field. Golden State made only five of its 20 three-point attempts. The Dream shot 33.3% from the field, making 23 of 69 attempts. Atlanta also went 6-for-30 from beyond the arc. The Valkyries received a boost from their home crowd at Chase Center, a venue locally known as Ballhalla.

Atlanta built a nine-point lead during the third quarter, trailing 37-28 in the sixth minute of that period. The momentum shifted as Golden State's offense started to function. Williams took over the scoring burden, contributing her team's final 13 points of the third period. Her efforts helped the Valkyries secure a 45-44 lead heading into the final ten minutes.

The final period remained tight. Allisha Gray of Atlanta hit a short jumper with 5:14 remaining to tie the score at 53. Williams responded by making two free throws with 3:34 left. She followed that with a driving layup 32 seconds later to put Golden State up by two. Atlanta quickly erased that lead. Williams then hit a 31-foot three-pointer with 2:18 to play, giving the Valkyries a 60-57 advantage that would hold.

With 53 seconds left, Kiah Stokes converted a missed shot by Williams into a key basket. That put Golden State ahead 64-57. The Valkyries protected that lead through the closing seconds. Williams won a jump ball against Gray with 8.3 seconds remaining, keeping the lead at 66-63. Veronica Burton was fouled with 5.1 seconds left and made the final free throws to seal the victory.

Williams' performance was her second-best in the playoffs this year. She previously scored 36 points in Game 2 of the first round against the Dallas Wings on Sept. 30. She made 10 of her 23 field-goal attempts in the final. Veronica Burton recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Stokes contributed eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds.

For Atlanta, Jordin Canada led the scoring with 18 points. Gray added 16 points. Angel Reese provided 8 points and 12 rebounds. The Dream blocked eight shots in the game, with Williams accounting for four of those blocks. This loss ends the season for Atlanta, which has played in the WNBA since 2008. The franchise has not won a title in its 19 seasons.

Atlanta previously lost in the finals in 2010, 2011, and 2013. The Valkyries started the game with an 8-0 lead in the sixth minute. They trailed by nine points in the third quarter before staging the comeback. The final score remained 68-63 at the buzzer. The victory completes a storybook season for the young franchise.

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors and former San Francisco Giants star Barry Bonds were in attendance to support the team. The win cements the Valkyries' place in league history as a title-winning franchise in its second year. The game ended with the Valkyries holding a two-point lead after Burton's free throws. The crowd celebrated the championship as the final seconds ticked away.