The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions in just their second season. Gabby Williams scored 30 points as Golden State beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at Chase Center in San Francisco.

It was the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Williams was named Finals MVP.

She did it after a quiet first half. Williams made just one field goal before halftime. With the Valkyries trailing 37-32 in the third quarter, she scored 13 straight points for Golden State, including three 3-pointers in a row.

A record night for the Finals MVP

Williams finished 10 of 23 from the floor and 4 of 8 from 3-point range. She also had four blocks. Her 30 points tied Penny Taylor's 2007 record for the most in a winner-take-all WNBA Finals game.

It was also the first time in the series that the team leading at halftime did not win.

Point guard Veronica Burton added 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists. She made the clinching free throws with 5.1 seconds left.

Center Kiah Stokes grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked two shots. It is her fourth title after winning three with Las Vegas. Tiffany Hayes scored 11 points to win the first championship of her long career.

Defense carried Golden State

The Valkyries were the league's best defensive team this season. Atlanta averaged 91.3 points in the regular season but was held under 70 in all four of Golden State's Finals wins.

Jordin Canada led the Dream with 18 points. Allisha Gray scored 16 while Angel Reese had eight points and 12 rebounds.

Two years instead of five

Owner Joe Lacob had set a goal of winning a title within five years. Coach Natalie Nakase and her team got there in two.

Golden State became the first expansion team in league history to reach the playoffs in its first season in 2025. This year it beat Dallas, defending champion Las Vegas and Atlanta to win it all.