The Golden State Valkyries captured the WNBA Championship in just their second season, holding off the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a dramatic Game 7 on Saturday night.
After a season surrounded by controversy, Angel Reese and her Atlanta teammates were left heartbroken as Gabby Williams delivered a standout performance for Golden State.
The decisive game unfolded before a raucous crowd at San Francisco’s Chase Center. NBA icon Draymond Green watched from courtside, while former President Barack Obama was among those following the action from home.
On a thrilling Halloween night, Williams scored the Valkyries’ final 11 points of the third quarter before continuing to shine in the fourth. She finished with 30 points, earning Finals MVP honors in the process.
For Atlanta, Jordin Canada led the way with 18 points, while Allisha Gray added 16. Reese recorded eight points and 12 rebounds as the Dream fell short in their fourth attempt to win a championship.
Gray made two free throws with 11 seconds remaining before Atlanta forced a jump ball between Gray and Williams. Veronica Burton secured possession and made two free throws with 5.1 seconds left, but the Dream could not complete the comeback.
The Golden State Valkyries celebrate the franchise’s first WNBA championship
Golden State players celebrate a late fourth-quarter basket against Atlanta
A dramatic seven-game Finals series concluded at San Francisco’s Chase Center
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream were left devastated after the defeat
As the final buzzer sounded, the sold-out crowd in violet erupted. Players rushed onto the court to embrace one another while confetti poured from the rafters.
Former President Obama posted on X after the game: ‘Congrats to the new WNBA champs, the @Valkyries! Ballhalla was rocking all season, and this team was fun to watch. Enjoy the celebration.’
The postgame trophy ceremony brought another striking moment when WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert was loudly booed by the crowd, capping a season likely to be remembered as the most controversial in league history.
The Finals were overshadowed by anger from fans after players on both teams remained off the court during the pregame national anthems. Some viewers at home described the decision as unpatriotic. The series was also disrupted by scheduling problems, with Game 6 moved to a lunchtime tipoff on Thursday to avoid staging it in a much smaller arena.
More broadly, the season was marked by a series of controversies, including a heated debate over transgender eligibility.
The issue intensified after Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham told ESPN that she did not believe biological males should be permitted to compete in women’s sports.
Cunningham’s remarks prompted protests from both sides of the debate. Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White also announced plans to enter the 2027 WNBA Draft.
In June, the league’s biggest star, Caitlin Clark, was involved in a heated confrontation with Phoenix Mercury player Alyssa Thomas, who appeared to strike Clark in the throat.
A wider debate over officiating then dominated the league, with Clark among the players calling for officials to become full-time employees.
Draymond Green was among the high-profile NBA figures watching from courtside
The Valkyries won the WNBA title in only their second season
Cathy Engelbert was booed by San Francisco fans while presenting the MVP trophy
Another controversy emerged in July when Toronto Tempo head coach Sandy Brondello referred to Reese as a ‘protected species’ while discussing the Atlanta star.
Many interpreted the comment as racially charged, and the WNBA suspended Brondello for one game.
Players across the league were also subjected to racist abuse and death threats on social media, prompting several of the WNBA’s biggest stars to question whether the league was doing enough to protect them.
Engelbert faced sustained criticism throughout the season, with detractors arguing that she had not provided strong enough leadership during the league’s turbulent year.
