Valkyries Win First WNBA Title in Historic Game 7 Over Dream

The Golden State Valkyries captured their first Women's National Basketball Association championship on Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in Game 7 at Chase Center—the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Gabby Williams scored 30 points for the Valkyries, including a WNBA Finals single-half record of 28 points in the second half, and was named series MVP. The victory concluded a best-of-seven series that ran the full distance of four games to three, marking the longest championship matchup in league history.

The 2026 Finals stretched across two weeks beginning October 17, with the two teams making five cross-country trips between San Francisco and Atlanta. The Dream forced Game 7 with an 80–69 victory on Thursday, anchored by strong perimeter shooting—13 made three-pointers in that contest. The Valkyries, a second-year expansion franchise, entered Game 7 as the home team at Chase Center. Historical precedent favored Golden State: of eight championship series since 2005 that reached a decisive game, the home team won six of those contests.

Game 7 unfolded as a defensive struggle. Golden State jumped to an 8–0 lead before Atlanta answered with a 21–6 run to take a 30–24 halftime lead. Williams managed only 2 points in the first half but dominated the second half, scoring 15 points in the third quarter alone. With the game tied 57–57 late in the fourth, Williams hit a three-pointer with 2:19 remaining and added two free throws to extend Golden State's lead to five points. Kiah Stokes added a putback, and the Valkyries sealed the win with free throws from Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton.

The Dream entered Saturday seeking their first WNBA title after losing four previous Finals appearances in their 18-year franchise history. Coach Karl Smesko had emphasized staying in the moment before the decisive game. The Valkyries' head coach Natalie Nakase highlighted the importance of physicality and dictation early in the contest. Williams reflected on the victory and the team's defensive and rebounding culture: "We have people who are ready to put their bodies on the floor to win a game. They don't care about scoring. They just want to do defense and rebounding."

The best-of-seven format for the WNBA Finals was introduced in 2025, replacing a best-of-five structure that had been in place since 2005. The Las Vegas Aces won last year's Finals in four games, making 2026 the first season to require the full seven-game series. Both teams featured experienced championship rosters: the Valkyries included three-time champion Kiah Stokes and two-time champion DeWanna Bonner, while the Dream had additional veteran championship experience among their roster.