**Gabby Williams Crowned WNBA Finals MVP After Historic Championship Win**
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Gabby Williams has been awarded the WNBA Finals MVP title following an impressive performance that saw her score 30 points in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream on October 31. This victory marked the Golden State Valkyries’ first championship title since the franchise was established just two years ago.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Williams reflected on her extraordinary journey as a player and expressed her excitement as the team prepared for a celebratory parade in San Francisco. The parade is scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, and promises to be a fitting celebration of the Valkyries’ historic achievement.
Williams recalled a particularly memorable moment after the triumph, when she received a congratulatory text from basketball legend Michael Jordan. Despite being informed minutes before that the NBA icon would reach out, she found herself surprisingly taken aback. “I was driving and thought to myself, ‘Do not crash your car, get to the gym,’” Williams said, laughing at the recollection. Jordan’s message, which encouraged her to “stay hungry,” stood out to Williams as quintessentially reflective of his competitive spirit.
The Valkyries secured their championship victory in a nail-biting Game 7, winning 68-63 against the Atlanta Dream. For Williams, the culmination of this season felt nothing short of a dream. “It’s like a fever dream,” she remarked, describing her joy at celebrating with family, friends, and teammates. She highlighted the significance of this victory, especially given her recent move to the Valkyries after spending seven years with the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm.
Having signed a multi-year contract with the Valkyries in April, Williams has made a significant impact this season, finishing with a career-best average of 14.4 points per game. The Chase Center, playfully referred to as “Ballhalla,” holds sentimental value for her, being just a short distance from where she played youth basketball and approximately 200 miles from her family home in Reno, Nevada.
As the team geared up for the deciding match, Williams found herself in an unusually upbeat mood, coincidentally on Halloween, her favourite holiday. “I was literally smiling in the warm-ups,” she recounted, explaining how her agent expressed concern about her relaxed demeanor. Despite encountering some difficulties in the first half, Williams found her rhythm and managed to score 28 of her 30 points during the latter part of the game, ultimately leading the Valkyries to their championship win and earning herself the MVP accolade.
Williams vividly remembers the tense moments leading up to the final buzzer, feeling as if time had slowed down. “I looked at the clock and thought, ‘This is absolutely going to be the longest 18 seconds of my life,’” she said. Nevertheless, her determination to secure the win for her team fuelled her performance on the court. “I just felt like, I can’t let these guys lose,” Williams stated, expressing her deep affection for her teammates.
With the championship secured and a bright future ahead, Williams feels a sense of comfort when taking on crucial moments in games. “It doesn’t feel scary having the ball in my hands in those clutch moments because I know these guys will love me through it,” she affirmed. Her journey not only highlights her personal achievements but also underscores the collective strength and spirit of the Golden State Valkyries.
As the team prepares for its well-deserved celebration, Gabby Williams stands as a beacon of inspiration, having made a remarkable impact within the league and setting a high bar for future performances. The Valkyries’ triumph serves as a testament to hard work, resilience, and the joys of teamwork in the ever-evolving landscape of women’s professional basketball.
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