Williams leads Valkyries to first WNBA title with record Finals half

Gabby Williams scored 30 points 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. The win secured the Valkyries' first championship, marking a title in the franchise's second season of existence.

Williams earned Finals MVP honors after recording the most points in a single half in WNBA Finals history. She began the game slowly, scoring only two points in the first half while her team trailed by six at the break. Williams then scored 15 points in the third quarter, helping Golden State take a 45-44 lead into the final period.

With the game tied at 53, Williams scored nine consecutive points. The Valkyries did not trail again after that run. Williams noted that coach Natalie Nakase told her to be patient early in the game, and Williams said she listened.

"I love moments like this," Williams said. "[Coach] Natalie [Nakase] told me to be patient in the first half. I listened to her."

This is Williams' first WNBA championship. She previously played for the Chicago Sky and the Seattle Storm before joining the Valkyries. Williams, who is 30, won a college championship and played overseas before this season. In September, she competed for France at the FIBA World Cup and lost to Team USA, a team that included Angel Reese.

Reese finished with eight points and 12 rebounds in the Game 7 loss. Following the game, Reese said she was proud of the Dream's season and stated the team would return to the Finals. "I'm really proud of the year that I had," Reese said. "I've done a lot of great things this year, but I wouldn't be able to do it without this group. I love these girls. I love the coaches."

Reese acknowledged that the Atlanta fan base supported the team heavily during the season. The Dream lost the series but expressed gratitude for the support. The Valkyries now hold the WNBA championship after winning the decisive game in front of their home crowd.