The Golden State Valkyries claimed their first WNBA championship with a narrow 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the finals. This triumph concluded a WNBA season marked by a significant increase in viewership and attendance.
Star player Gabby Williams led the Valkyries, scoring 30 points, along with four blocks and three steals. Her performance was instrumental for the team at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Williams addressed critics post-game, emphasizing the talent and spirit of her team.
For the Atlanta Dream, Jordin Canada was the standout performer, scoring 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds. However, their key player, Angel Reese, encountered difficulties, only managing eight points in 33 minutes.
This championship marked the first time a team won in a Game 7, after the league extended the finals series format from five to seven games starting last year. The Valkyries’ victory is notable, given it’s only their second season as a team, while the Dream remain without a win in their four WNBA Finals appearances.
Record-Breaking Season for WNBA
The 2026 WNBA season was a significant success. Attendance reached an all-time high of 3.8 million fans across 330 regular season games, according to league reports. This figure represents a 21% increase from the previous high. Major networks like ESPN, ABC, and CBS recorded their highest viewership figures, with the league tripling the number of games drawing at least one million viewers compared to last year.
Path to the Finals
Despite having only one All-Star, the Valkyries showed remarkable progress in their second year. Owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, who also own the Golden State Warriors, the team improved on their debut season record of 23-21 to finish this season at 32-12. Gabby Williams’ acquisition during the offseason played a key role in this improvement.
In the playoffs, they defeated teams led by notable players like Paige Bueckers and A’ja Wilson to reach the finals. The Dream reached the finals without a loss, having swept teams led by Kiki Iriafen and Breanna Stewart.
The Valkyries initiated the finals with a home victory, but the Dream fought back with dominant performances, especially from Angel Reese. However, Reese’s struggles in Games 4 and 5 shifted momentum in favor of the Valkyries.
Game 6 Controversy
Game 6 faced scheduling controversies, as it began at 12:30 p.m. due to an Atlanta Hawks game. The Dream’s regular venue, Gateway Center Arena, was bypassed for the larger State Farm Arena, which seats 17,000. This decision was met with criticism from the Dream’s owners, who highlighted unresolved scheduling concerns with the WNBA. Despite the timing, the arena sold out.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert expressed her satisfaction with the sellout, despite the scheduling issues, and emphasized the collaboration that facilitated hosting the finals at State Farm Arena. The commissioner recognized the success and atmosphere generated by the Atlanta fans throughout the finals.
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