Gabby Williams scored eight of her 16 points in overtime to lead the Golden State Valkyries past the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, securing a spot in the WNBA Finals. The Valkyries completed a sweep in the best-of-five semifinal with an 87-77 victory on Friday, setting up a best-of-seven series against Atlanta starting Saturday at home.
Williams stopped briefly on the court after the win to share a celebratory gesture with coach Natalie Nakase, a moment that captured the connection between the veteran guard and the team’s leadership. Williams signed with Golden State in the spring on a three-year contract, seeking a culture and environment where she could thrive. The move has paid off as the Valkyries have built momentum in just two seasons, with Williams emerging as a driving force.
“I think I said that because everyone's there just to see good basketball,” Williams said recently about the home crowd at Chase Center, which she described as her “safe place.” She grew up playing youth basketball in San Francisco and has found a renewed sense of belonging in front of the Bay Area fans. “I feel like I got superpowers when I’m in here,” she added.
Williams arrived after stints with Seattle and overseas, bringing a résumé that includes national championships at UConn and an Olympic silver medal with France in 2024. Her teammates credit her for unlocking new energy and confidence. Kayla Thornton said, “Gabby doesn’t need to prove herself. Even when she was in Seattle she was doing great things. Her coming to this team, she unlocked a lot of different things… We back her up every day, and she’s unbelievable.”
The Valkyries leaned on Williams throughout the playoffs. Against Dallas in the first round, she helped spark a 16-point comeback in the deciding game. In the semifinals against the Aces, she was the standout in the clutch moments, particularly in overtime. Tiffany Hayes said, “We’ll do it again and again, over and over. We believe in her.”
Williams’ connection with the team extends beyond the court. Veronica Burton noted the seamless transition Williams made to Golden State’s defensive identity. “From the jump, I think you could feel Gabby's transition here like it was seamless… You could feel her energy just from a culture perspective,” Burton said. “Obviously the way she plays on both sides of the ball I was going to love her, our team was going to love her, and we saw it from the moment she stepped in.”
The Valkyries’ home arena, dubbed “Ballhalla” by the team, has become a fortress this season. Williams credited the crowd as the “sixth man” on the floor, helping fuel the team’s performance. The atmosphere, she said, allows players to be their authentic selves. “There’s some magic in this building, I swear there is,” Williams said.
Williams’ decision to join Golden State was driven by a desire to contend. “No one really believed in us except for us, and so we just leaned on each other all season,” she said. “I signed here because I wanted to contend. I knew this team had what it took.”
The Valkyries will face the Atlanta Dream and star forward Angel Reese in the Finals, starting with Game 1 at Chase Center on Saturday. Williams will look to continue her run of clutch performances on the biggest stage.
According to Yahoo Sports.