Photo Courtesy of John Mac- Wikimedia Commons
The Golden State Valkyries take home their WNBA championship title, beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7. This was Valkyries’ head coach Natalie Nakase’s second year with the team.
On Halloween night, the Golden State Valkyries made history by winning the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Finals. On Oct. 31, the Atlanta Dream and Golden State Valkyries faced off with the championship on the line. After a defensively tough match, the Valkyries won Game 7, 68-63, and took home their first championship.
According to The New York Times, “No other team in North American major sports, including the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB, has won a title so quickly.” Gabby Williams struggled in the first half, but ended up scoring 28 points in the second—tallying 30 points for the night. Williams has struggled throughout the finals matchup, but her energy and leadership have been a driving force behind the team’s success. As celebrations ensued, it was announced that Williams was named Finals MVP, and this was well-deserved.
Speaking on the win, Williams said, “Honestly, everyone here, not just the players but the staff, the community, the city, the Bay––y’all have been pouring into me all season…This is a long season and y’all gave me energy every single night. Tonight, we were down and I hit a shot, it felt like we were up 20…” All season long, the players have given credit to their fans and have even said that the fans are their sixth player. It is evident how much this win meant not only to the team, but to the fans who believed that they could pull it off.
It is impossible not to mention Natalie Nakase’s incredible coaching for the Valkyries. In only her second year as a head coach, she has broken records and built a championship team out of players teams overlooked for years. Nakase said, “We had unconditional love that is unbreakable…This is proof that if you put in all your heart, all your soul, you can f****** win championships.” The identity of the Valkyries has always been defense first, and this approach is vastly different from many other WNBA teams that focus on offense. Famously, players and fans have begun calling the Valkyries “Valkatraz,” due to their impeccable defense.
Two years ago, Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob made an unprecedented promise to fans: the Valkyries would win a championship within five years. Only two years later, his words came true; he said, “Two years, it’s insane…It’s just a lot of good decisions, a lot of good execution, a great coach. I said it when I got up there, I really want to give the credit to those three women. I give myself credit for hiring them, but other than that, they did it. They were all spectacular in their jobs; they deserve it.”
Every player on the Valkyries made an impact throughout their playoff run, and that was the difference maker. Veterans like Tiffany Hayes stepped up every game, forcing tough shots into the basket and sharing her experience with the team. Kiah Stokes, nicknamed “The Warden of Valkatraz,” had major blocks every game and even tied a block record with Lisa Leslie.
Now that the team has accomplished what many thought to be impossible, questions of “what’s next” are being asked. Is this team about to become a dynasty? What moves will be made in the off-season? This WNBA season ended with one of the best outcomes possible—a historic championship, increased viewership, and more well-deserved attention on women's sports.