Okay, so the Golden State Valkyries just pulled off something absolutely wild. In only their second season in the WNBA, they went all the way, clinching their first-ever championship by beating the Atlanta Dream in a grueling seven-game Finals. Think about that: an expansion team, taking the title in less than half the time their owner even predicted. Insane.
Built Different, Built to Win
Seriously, this team is built different. From day one, they defied every single odd. Their first season? They set records, selling out every home game and pulling in the WNBA’s highest attendance numbers. And get this, they made the playoffs in that opening year, the first expansion team *ever* to do that. But 2026, their second year, that’s when they really went off. Golden State didn’t just compete, they *dominated* the league, finishing with the best defense in the regular season and locking up the No. 2 seed. They rode that momentum straight to the chip. Back when owner Joe Lacob introduced the team just over three years ago, he straight up declared they’d win a championship within five years. They did it in two. That’s not just beating a timeline, that’s shattering it.
Gabby Williams: Finals MVP and Certified Legend
You can’t talk about this title without talking about Gabby Williams. What a story! She played for three teams in eight years, searching for her spot. Well, she found it in Golden State, and she absolutely exploded. Williams had a career year for the Valkyries, averaging 14.4 points, shooting 34.2 percent from deep, and snatching 1.6 steals per game. Her defensive versatility is unreal, and it got her an All-Star nod, a spot on the All-Defense Team, and even some MVP votes. But when the Finals hit, and they needed her most? She delivered. Big time. Williams was a consistent force, averaging 19.6 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2.6 SPG, and 2.7 APG in the series. And in Game 7, with everything on the line, she went off for 30 points to seal the win and take home the 2026 WNBA Finals MVP trophy. Legend status, earned.
Criticism? What Criticism?
So, what went wrong for this team? Honestly, who cares? When you hoist that trophy, when you win it all, any criticism just evaporates. The ring is the ultimate mic drop, right? Basketball never stops, though, and next year the target will be firmly on their back. This title changes everything for what an expansion team can achieve. Golden State showed the league how it’s done. Now, the rest of the WNBA has to figure out how to catch them.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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