Your 2026 WNBA Champions: Golden State Valkyries!

The Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA Championship, in only their second season as a franchise, with a Game 7 victory, behind MVP Gabby Williams, who returned back to her SF Bay Area B-ball roots as a free agent, and scored her 30 points in just a little over half the game (she scored 28 points in the second half, and made her first two points with less than two minutes left in the first half), in a thrilling to the last seconds dash for a 68-63 victory.  She scored 64% of her team’s second half points. 

It was exciting following them this season, as they built upon last season’s solid season, where they were the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their first season.  They fought their way to the Second Seed, which was crucial, as they had home advantage throughout the playoffs, after the first seed lost in their playoff bracket. And then they swept the previous champs, the Las Vegas Aces, before facing the Atlanta Dreams, and beating them in seven hard fought games. They won with elite defensive talent and had Gabby’s offensive talent push them over the top.

Congrats to the team, Coach Nakase, and everyone working for the Valkyries on winning the championship in only their second season!  It is a first for any expansion team, and just a great achievement, in any case! They fulfilled owner Joe Lacob’s goal of winning at least one championship in their first five seasons.