Two years ago, Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob promised a WNBA championship within five years. On October 31, the Valkyries delivered — beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals to capture the first title in franchise history.
It is a feat no expansion team has ever matched: a championship in just the second season of existence, and the first-ever Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Trailing 25-20 at halftime at a deafening Chase Center — the “Ballhalla” crowd — the Valkyries stormed back behind a legendary second-half performance from Gabby Williams.
Williams poured in 30 points, including a blistering third-quarter stretch that dragged Golden State back in front. She was named Finals MVP for a postseason run in which she carried the offense series after series.
How Golden State Built a Champion in Two Years
The turnaround is staggering. In their inaugural season, the Valkyries went 23-21 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. Ahead of the 2026 campaign, the front office rebuilt the frontcourt — signing Williams after her first All-Star season and adding veteran center Kiah Stokes from the Las Vegas Aces in free agency.
The result: 32 wins, the No. 2 playoff seed, a first-round win over the Dallas Wings, a sweep of the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, and finally seven grueling games against Atlanta.
The Business of a Dynasty?
The title caps a remarkable rise both on and off the court. The Valkyries — owned by the same group behind the NBA’s Warriors — have sold out every home game in two seasons, and were valued at $1 billion earlier this year, the first WNBA franchise to hit that mark. A championship parade is set for Wednesday in San Francisco.
Now the question shifts to 2027: can the league’s newest superpower run it back?
Also Read: Atlanta Dream Beat Valkyries 80-69 to Force First Ever WNBA Finals Game 7
Also Read: Dream Say Concerns Over Finding Available WNBA Finals Venue Went Unheeded as Game 6 Moves to Midday
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
