After two quarters in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals, Valkyries forward Gabby Williams had two points on 1/4 shooting from the field, and the Dream led 30-24.
What a difference a half makes. In the second half, Williams, who was 9/19 from the floor, including 4/6 from deep, scored 28 of her game-high 30 points.
The Valkyries defeated the Dream 68-63 in the first Game 7 in WNBA history on Saturday night at Chase Center.
Williams was named WNBA Finals MVP.
The Valkyries, in only their second year as a franchise, won their first championship in team history.
Williams, who scored the most points in the second half of a WNBA postseason game, said her coach, Natalie Nakase, told her to stay patient.
“Nat told me to stay patient. I trust her with my life,” Williams said. “I stayed patient. I trusted her. She said, ‘Stay patient, stay patient. The game is going to open up for you.’ It did. It’s what we did all year, just trust each other.”
“You had a 30-piece?” Nakase said. “F— good job, Gabby.”
All year people doubted Williams and the Valkyries, but that wasn’t the focus; the focus was on those who believed in Golden State.
“I think, like, we were making jokes, like I can’t wait to win and shut everybody up,” Williams said. “I don’t want to focus on that. I want to focus on people who believed in myself the whole time. There was obviously a lot of negativity, but tonight I want to focus on the positive. There were a lot of people that believed in us and believed in me as well. It started with us believing in each other, and that’s so special.”
Jordin Canada led the Dream with 18 points, and Allisha Gray added 16.
Angel Reese, who had eight points and 12 rebounds, believes delay is not denial.
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Reese said. “Especially with the good group, great group, that I’ve honestly had the honor to battle with all year. They changed my life, and I’m just so grateful for them, and I’m so thankful for them. It is tough in the moment, but we’ll be back. I always say, delayed, not denied, and this is only year three. They have a lot more years left, too. I’m just really grateful that I got to go to war with this group, and I would do it again, all over again.”
This was a great series, but great players do great things in big moments, and Williams did that for Golden State, which is why they are WNBA champions.
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