Gabby Williams was crowned MVP of the 2026 WNBA Finals, leading the Golden State Valkyries to their first-ever championship with a wild 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in a Game 7 thriller on Saturday night. This wasn’t just any title; it was the Valkyries’ first, coming in only their second season as an expansion team, and it capped off the WNBA’s historic first-ever Game 7.
Williams Explodes When It Counted Most
Talk about clutch! Williams absolutely went off in Game 7, dropping a game-high 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting. She didn’t stop there either, adding four blocks, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals to her stat line. The biggest moment? With the score knotted at 57-57 and barely two minutes left in the fourth quarter, Williams buried a deep triple that put the Valkyries ahead for good. Golden State locked it down from that point, never letting the Dream regain the lead. While her overall Finals averages of 19.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.6 steals per game are solid, her shooting splits for the series, at 32.6 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from deep, might make you do a double take. But when the lights were brightest, Williams delivered an MVP-level performance.
The Playoff Gauntlet and a New Champion
Williams was the absolute engine for the Valkyries throughout the entire postseason. As their leading scorer, she guided them through a tough playoff journey. They first dispatched the Dallas Wings in the opening round, then swept the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. Heading into Saturday’s championship showdown, Williams was averaging 20.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.3 steals per game across 12 playoff appearances, with impressive 37.4/31.4/89.7 shooting splits. This victory isn’t just huge for the Valkyries, who joined the league in 2025; it’s a massive moment for Williams, a two-time All-Star who now finally has her first WNBA title and a Finals MVP trophy to go with it.
Williams didn’t just win a title; she etched her name in history with that Game 7 performance. This MVP trophy, her first, solidifies her as a certified legend. What a performance, what a series, and what a first Game 7 for the WNBA!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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