Golden State Valkyries Clinch First Championship in Record-Breaking WNBA Season

The Golden State Valkyries closed a historic WNBA season with a nail-biting 68-63 Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream, claiming their first championship title. The game marked the end of a season that saw unprecedented viewership and attendance records shattered.

Gabby Williams, star player of the Valkyries, delivered an outstanding performance with 30 points, 4 blocks, and 3 steals in 38 minutes. Her efforts were pivotal in the Valkyries’ triumph at Chase Center in San Francisco on October 31, 2026. Williams addressed past doubts, stating, “All we heard last year: We don’t have no stars, we don’t have no talent. Yeah right. We got good people. We got winners.”

Atlanta Dream’s Jordin Canada topped her team’s score sheet with 18 points, along with 5 assists and 4 rebounds. Angel Reese, another key player from Atlanta, faced challenges during the game, scoring only 8 points on 3-of-7 shooting.

This championship marks a significant milestone as it was the first decided in a Game 7, the league having expanded to a seven-game finals series last year. This title is especially notable for the Valkyries, considering it is their first win in only their second season as a team. The Dream, meanwhile, remain winless across their four WNBA Finals appearances.

The 2026 WNBA season was outstanding, with the league reporting an attendance record of 3.8 million across 330 regular season games. This marked a 21% increase from the previous year, setting a new high. Media coverage numbers were equally impressive, with ESPN, ABC, and CBS broadcasting their most-watched seasons to date. The number of games averaging over 1 million viewers tripled compared to the previous record.

The Valkyries’ Journey

The Golden State Valkyries made impressive strides despite having only one All-Star player. Owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, the Valkyries saw a considerable improvement from their inaugural season record of 23-21 when they exited in the first playoff round. The acquisition of Gabby Williams in the offseason transformed the team, leading them to a 32-12 regular season record and securing victories against formidable teams like the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces.

On the other side, Atlanta Dream advanced to the finals without dropping a game, sweeping the Washington Mystics and New York Liberty.

The finals began with the Valkyries winning Game 1 by 68-64, though Atlanta took control in Games 2 and 3 with impressive performances by Angel Reese. However, Reese’s scoring challenges in Games 4 and 5 helped the Valkyries regain control of the series.

Game 6 Timing

The scheduling of Game 6 faced complications, starting early at 12:30 p.m. due to a scheduling conflict with the Atlanta Hawks’ evening game at State Farm Arena. Although the Dream’s usual venue Gateway Center Arena seats only 3,500 compared to the 17,000 capacity of State Farm Arena, the choice boosted attendance.

Atlanta Dream’s ownership expressed concerns over playoff scheduling conflicts, stating, “Two months ago, when the WNBA finalized playoff dates and times, we raised concerns…Our concerns did not receive the attention…they deserved.” Despite this, Game 6 was a sell-out event.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert acknowledged the situation, saying, “The sellout crowds and extraordinary atmosphere at State Farm Arena were a tremendous success…we look forward to delivering another unforgettable Finals experience in Atlanta.”

The collaboration between the WNBA, NBA, and arena management ensured fans could experience an exciting climax to the season.