Valkyries Claim WNBA Title in Two Years
Golden State defeated Atlanta 68-63 in Game 7, beating owner Joe Lacob's five-year target by three years.
By Marco Ortega ·
The Golden State Valkyries secured their first WNBA championship on Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals. This victory occurred two years after the franchise was established, falling well short of the five-year timeline owner Joe Lacob originally set.
In October 2024, Lacob told head coach Natalie Nakase during her interview that the team would win a title within five years. Nakase accepted the challenge immediately, telling her mentors she would build a culture of competitors who sacrificed for the group. She partnered with general manager Ohemaa Nyanin to draft a roster focused on defense and low egos.
The Valkyries faced skepticism because they lacked a marquee star in their early years. They selected Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton in the 2024 expansion draft. In 2025, the team became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs, though they were swept by the Minnesota Lynx in the first round.
The roster shifted dramatically in the 2026 offseason. Gabby Williams signed with Golden State after the Seattle Storm cored her in 2025. Lacob personally recruited Williams, promising he would build a dynasty. The Valkyries also acquired Kiah Stokes, who had won three titles with Las Vegas.
Williams led the team to the title, averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 34.2 percent from three-point range. She won Finals MVP and earned All-Defensive First Team honors. Her presence helped the Valkyries hold opponents to a league-low 75.1 points per game in the regular season.
Nakase emphasized defense throughout the season, banning ball possession for the first three days of training camp. This approach made Golden State the top-ranked defensive unit in the league. Stokes contributed 31 blocks in the postseason, tying Lisa Leslie for the most in WNBA history.
After falling behind 2-1 in the Finals, Nakase adjusted the starting lineup for Game 4. She inserted Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles in place of Thornton and Zandalasini. Charles finished that game with a plus/minus of plus-14, and the Valkyries won the next two games to close the series.
Nakase credited her players for the turnaround, noting that the team operates without ego. She told her staff and players that she would not let the franchise fail, a promise made during her initial interview with Lacob. The title concludes a two-year process that began with a specific goal and ended with a championship.
Source: ESPN
