The Golden State Valkyries made WNBA history on October 31, 2026 (Credit: valkyries.wnba.com)

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in a thrilling Game 7 on October 31, 2026, to capture their first WNBA championship. They also made history by becoming the first WNBA expansion team to win a title in just their second season. The Seattle Storm held the previous record, winning it in their fifth season, in 2004.

Based in San Francisco, California, the Valkyries share Chase Center with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. They joined the WNBA as its 13th team in 2025. In their first season, they won 23 games. This is more than any other expansion team in WNBA history. They also became the first expansion team in WNBA history to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season.

The second year was just as impressive. The team finished the regular season with 32 wins and 10 losses, earning the second seed in the playoffs. They then went on to defeat the Dallas Wings in the first round and the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. The final showdown against the Atlanta Dream turned into a close battle. After six games, the series was tied at three wins apiece, setting up the first deciding Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.

Gabby Williams played a key role in the Valkyries championship win (Credit: John Mac/ CC BY-SA 4.0/ Commons.wikimedia.org)

Trailing by six points at halftime in front of their home crowd at Chase Center, the Valkyries mounted a second-half comeback. Gabby Williams led the effort, scoring 28 points to set a WNBA postseason record for the most points in a half. She also made a key three-pointer late in the game, helping Golden State secure the victory. Her outstanding performance earned her the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

For the Bay Area, the win marks another major basketball achievement. The Golden State Warriors have won five NBA championships since moving to the region. Now, the Valkyries have added another professional basketball title.

Resources: Wnba.com, Wikipedia.org, CNN.com, ESPN.com