Gabby Williams scores 30 as the Valkyries beat the Dream in Game 7 for their first WNBA title
The Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA championship on Saturday night, beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals in San Francisco, ESPN and AP reported. Gabby Williams scored 30 points, 28 of them in the second half, and was named Finals MVP. The Valkyries are in only their second season.
How it turned: Atlanta led 30-24 at halftime, and Williams had just two points at the break, ESPN reported. She then scored 15 straight points across the third and fourth quarters, the first player in WNBA history to score 15 consecutive points in a Finals game, according to Elias data cited by ESPN. Her fourth three-pointer, with just over two minutes left, put Golden State ahead for good.
The numbers: Williams shot 10-for-23, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, and added four blocks, ESPN reported. Golden State’s defense held Atlanta to 33% shooting and 20% from three-point range. It was the first Game 7 in the history of the WNBA Finals, and the Valkyries took the series 4-3.
History: The Valkyries are the third team across the NBA, BAA and WNBA to win a title within their first two seasons, ESPN reported, citing Elias. They are also the first WNBA champion without a single All-WNBA selection in the same season. About 18,000 fans watched at Chase Center.