The Golden State Valkyries are your WNBA champions, taking down the Atlanta Dream in a thrilling Game 7 with a 68-63 decision on Saturday night. Can you believe they snagged the title in only their second season of existence? Absolutely wild.
Gabby Williams Went OFF When It Mattered Most
This series had everything, especially a Game 7 that will live in WNBA lore. It was the first Game 7 in WNBA history, closing out the league’s 30th season, and it totally lived up to the hype. The Valkyries were trailing, but Gabby Williams had a historic performance, dropping 28 of her 30 points in the second half to lead the comeback victory. That is just clutch, pure and simple.
The road to Game 7 was a wild one. The Valkyries actually had a chance to close it out in Game 6 in Atlanta, but the Dream, fueled by their home crowd, forced this winner-take-all showdown with an 80-69 win. The Finals series itself was a best-of-seven, the second time ever for the WNBA, and it tested both teams to their limits. Golden State took Game 1 68-64, but Atlanta roared back with dominant wins in Game 2 (79-65) and Game 3 (97-71). The Valkyries then strung together two massive wins, taking Game 4 67-62 and Game 5 64-55 before the Dream pushed it to Game 7. Talk about a roller coaster.
A Playoff Run Paved with Sweeps and Historic Wins
To even get to this stage, both teams had to conquer some serious competition. The Valkyries absolutely dominated in the semifinals, sweeping the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. Before that, they had a tough first-round series against the Dallas Wings, needing all three games to emerge victorious with a 2-1 series win.
The Atlanta Dream had an equally impressive, if not more dominant, path to the Finals. They were on an absolute tear, sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals and taking out the Washington Mystics 2-0 in the first round. The Dream were a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs heading into the championship series, showing everyone they meant business.
This WNBA Season Was More Than Just a Title Run
Beyond the Valkyries’ incredible championship, the entire 2026 WNBA season was groundbreaking. It wasn’t just on the court where records were smashed; the league saw a contentious but ultimately successful labor battle that resulted in a historic pay raise for the players. The salary cap jumped from $1.5 million in 2025 to a massive $7 million in 2026, and you could see the players elevating their game weekly in return.
Multiple regular-season records fell, proving this season was special from start to finish. Clark became the first player in WNBA history to record a 40-point, 10-assist game. Angel Reese broke the single-game rebounding record with a monstrous 26 boards. And Kelsey Mitchell even passed A’ja Wilson’s single-season points record. What a season for the WNBA, capped off by a historic Game 7 and a brand new champion. With a massive salary cap jump and players smashing records left and right, this league is absolutely exploding. Get ready, because if this year is any indication, the next WNBA season is going to be even more epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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