SPORTS NEWS
Golden State claimed its first WNBA championship on Saturday, October 31, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 at Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries secured the title in their second season, winning the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
Atlanta pushed the series to a decisive game after winning Game 6, but the Dream fell short in the franchise’s first-ever Finals Game 7. Golden State held on through a close finish, with Gabby Williams leading all scorers and making key plays late.
The official WNBA box score records Williams’ 30 points, four blocks and 10-for-23 shooting. The WNBA Game 7 live blog tracked the turning points in a contest that began with Atlanta struggling to find its shot and ended with the Valkyries celebrating a historic title.
Atlanta recovers from a difficult start
The Dream opened the game 0-for-10 from the field. Golden State built an early lead, but Atlanta stayed with the game and worked its way back into contention. Jordin Canada helped steady the offense, scoring 18 points overall, while Allisha Gray added 16.
Atlanta went into halftime in front, having recovered from its opening stretch. The early deficit did not define the Dream’s performance. The team kept competing through the second half and gave itself a chance to challenge for the championship late.
The Dream’s shooting numbers made the comeback more difficult. Atlanta finished 23-for-69 from the field, or 33.3%, and made 6 of 30 attempts from three-point range. Rhyne Howard scored six points on 3-for-14 shooting. Angel Reese contributed eight points and 12 rebounds.
Reese had delivered major performances earlier in the Finals. Her rebounding remained an important part of Atlanta’s effort in Game 7, even as the Dream searched for more scoring.
Williams sets the pace for Golden State
Williams’ 30 points set the tone for Golden State. She made four of eight three-point attempts and blocked four shots, contributing at both ends of the court. Her scoring helped the Valkyries respond whenever Atlanta threatened to take control.
Kiah Stokes added eight points and a game-high 13 rebounds for Golden State. Veronica Burton finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Tiffany Hayes scored 11. The Valkyries outrebounded Atlanta 47-44 and recorded eight blocks, according to the official box score.
Golden State’s advantage came from more than one player. Williams supplied the leading scoring, while Stokes and Burton helped secure possessions on the glass. The Valkyries also made 15 of 16 free throws, giving them a reliable source of points in a game where both teams had stretches of difficult shooting.
A close finish decides the championship
The fourth quarter came down to a handful of possessions. Howard tied the score at 57 with 2:41 remaining. Williams answered with a three-pointer, then added two free throws as Golden State worked to protect its lead.
Gray cut into the margin at the line with 11 seconds left. Atlanta forced a jump ball on the next possession, but Burton came away with the ball and made two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining. Those points helped seal the Valkyries’ five-point victory, as detailed in Associated Press coverage.
The narrow result reflected the stakes of the night. Atlanta had reached the Finals after sweeping Washington and New York, and the team had already shown it could rebound after a loss. Golden State, meanwhile, entered the series after a 32-12 regular season and playoff victories over Dallas and Las Vegas. Both teams arrived at Game 7 having earned their place in a series that went the distance.
A landmark game for the league
This was the WNBA’s first Finals Game 7. The league moved to a seven-game Finals format in 2025, setting the stage for the first winner-take-all championship game in the Finals’ history.
Golden State’s title also came in only the franchise’s second season. For Atlanta, the loss leaves the Dream winless in four Finals appearances. The team’s Game 7 run nevertheless marked a significant postseason achievement, ending with the franchise’s first appearance in a Finals game of this kind.
The championship capped a season of strong leaguewide attendance. The WNBA reported a record 3.8 million regular-season attendees, with average attendance up 21%. The Finals finale added another milestone to a year that brought new records and the league’s first championship decided in Game 7.
Atlanta’s Game 6 scheduling debate
The lead-up to Game 7 also followed public discussion around the scheduling of Game 6 in Atlanta. The midday start time drew attention because of a scheduling conflict involving the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Dream ownership (Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery) said publicly that their concerns about the schedule did not receive the attention they deserved. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the league preferred State Farm Arena.
Despite the debate, Atlanta sold out the midday game. The Dream then carried the series to its first Game 7, before Golden State closed it out in San Francisco two days later.
For Atlanta, the final score brings a close to a postseason run that included a sweep of two opponents and a hard-fought Finals series. For Golden State, the 68-63 win delivers the franchise’s first championship and a place in WNBA history as the team that won the league’s first Finals Game 7.
Atlanta Wave TV is not credentialed for these events and did not attend. This recap is based on publicly available WNBA information and reporting.
