Valkyries cement best startup ever status: ‘This is what happens when you invest in women’s sports’
The Golden State Valkyries celebrate after the team’s victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in San Francisco.
TL;DR
- The Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship in a record-breaking 17 months, the fastest in North American professional sports history.
- Gabby Williams scored 28 points in the second half of Game 7, leading the Valkyries to victory and earning her MVP honors.
- Coach Natalie Nakase became the first woman of color to win a WNBA championship, emphasizing the team's culture of love and inclusion.
- The team, which had no players named to All-WNBA teams and a coach who finished second in Coach of the Year voting, achieved immediate and significant impact.
- Team owner Joe Lacob, who has a history of investing in women's basketball, credited Nakase, GM Ohemaa Nyanin, and president Jess Smith as the braintrust behind the success.
- Veteran player Tiffany Hayes highlighted that investing in women's sports yields results, stating, 'We're worth it. We always give more than is expected of us.'