32-12 Valkyries Beat Dream in Game 7 for First WNBA Title

The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 on Saturday to win the WNBA Finals, capturing the franchise's first title in its second year of existence, according to ESPN.

Gabby Williams scored 30 points in the deciding game and was named Finals MVP, ESPN reported. The Valkyries finished the regular season 32-12 as the No. 2 seed.

How did Golden State win Game 7?

Golden State dropped Games 2 and 3 of the series, losses the team said left players not recognizing themselves on the floor, per ESPN. Ahead of Game 4, the Valkyries held team meetings described as "vulnerable," with players urging each other to find a new level of fight, ESPN reported. The team won the next two games, then lost Game 6 in Atlanta before closing out the series behind Williams' 30-point performance in Game 7.

What made the Valkyries' title run historic?

Golden State is the first expansion franchise to win a WNBA championship in its first two seasons, according to ESPN. The Valkyries joined the league ahead of the 2025 season and were already the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year. In the 2026 postseason, they beat Dallas in three games in the first round, then swept defending champion Las Vegas before facing Atlanta in the Finals.

Which Valkyries players are free agents?

Four Golden State players are set to hit the market, per ESPN's offseason breakdown. Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini are unrestricted free agents. Kaitlyn Chen is listed under executive rights, meaning the Valkyries retain certain negotiating control over her rights even as other teams can pursue her.

What draft capital does Golden State have for 2027?

The Valkyries enter the offseason with their own first-, second- and third-round picks for the 2027 draft, ESPN reported. The league's draft lottery, which determines the No. 1 overall pick, is scheduled for Nov. 15.

What's next for the rest of the WNBA?

ESPN reported that free agency ahead of the 2027 season could be more active than usual because of a short turnaround between the league's new collective bargaining agreement and the start of 2026 training camps. The WNBA will keep its roster of 15 teams for 2027 after adding three expansion franchises over the past two seasons, according to ESPN. One change: the Connecticut Sun will relocate and become the Houston Comets.

Atlanta, which pushed the Finals to a seventh game, now joins the rest of the league's eliminated teams in turning to roster and front-office decisions for 2027. ESPN's full offseason guide covers team needs, pending free agents and draft positioning for every franchise, including both Finals participants.

For readers tracking New York's own title window, HTT News has reported separately on the Knicks releasing single-game tickets after ending their own championship drought.

Full team-by-team details, including rosters, cap situations and draft positioning for all 15 WNBA franchises, are available in ESPN's 2026 WNBA offseason guide.