Gabby Williams scored 30 points, including the team's final 11 points of the third quarter, to lead the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at Chase Center. The win secured the franchise's first championship in just its second season. Jordin Canada added 18 points for the Valkyries, while Kiah Stokes grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked two shots.
The Dream, playing in their fourth Finals appearance, were led by Allisha Gray with 16 points and Angel Reese with eight points and 12 rebounds. Atlanta led 30-24 at halftime, but Williams took over in the second half. She hit a crucial 3-pointer after Rhyne Howard tied the game at 57 with 2:41 remaining, then converted two free throws with 1:40 left. Veronica Burton sealed the win with two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase adjusted the starting lineup after the team fell behind 2-1 in the series, inserting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes. The 37-year-old Hayes, who came out of retirement and spent 10 seasons with the Dream, scored 11 points in Game 7. Co-owner Joe Lacob had guaranteed a championship within five years when the franchise was granted three years ago. 'We gotta build a bigger trophy case,' co-owner Peter Guber said during the celebration.
Williams, who played youth basketball in the Bay Area, said the championship was built on culture. 'All it took was good people,' she said. 'All we heard last year was we don't have no stars. We don't have no talent. Yeah right! We got good people. We got good people. We got winners.' The sellout crowd chanted her name throughout the fourth quarter as confetti fell on the court.
Sources: Las Vegas Sun
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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