The Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions. In the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history, Golden State beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 on Saturday night, Oct. 31, at Chase Center in San Francisco, winning the best-of-seven series 4-3 and the first title in franchise history. Gabby Williams carried the Valkyries with 30 points after a two-point first half, and Veronica Burton sealed it at the free-throw line with 5.1 seconds left. It’s a remarkable finish for a team playing just its second season in the league.
Here’s how Game 7 played out, the numbers that decided it, how the whole series unfolded, and what happens next.
Game 7 final score: Valkyries 68, Dream 63
According to the ESPN box score, the game was played in front of 18,064 fans at Chase Center, the Valkyries’ home arena nicknamed “Ballhalla” and dubbed “Boohalla” for Halloween night. Here’s the scoring by quarter:
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Dream | 12 | 18 | 14 | 19 | 63 |
| Golden State Valkyries | 14 | 10 | 21 | 23 | 68 |
How the game unfolded
Golden State came out swinging on defense. The Valkyries blocked four shots in the first quarter, and Atlanta didn’t score until Angel Reese’s basket with 4:41 left in the period, by which point Golden State led 8-0, per the ESPN play-by-play. Atlanta recovered, and Jordin Canada drove a second-quarter push that gave the Dream a 30-24 halftime lead. CBS Sports’ live coverage also noted a milestone for Atlanta’s DeWanna Bonner, who reached 600 career postseason defensive rebounds, a WNBA record.
Then came the third quarter. Williams, who had only two points at the break, scored 15 in the third, including three straight three-pointers, and Golden State took a 45-44 lead into the fourth. The final 10 minutes were tight: the teams were tied at 53 with just over four minutes left, and the Valkyries led 60-57 with 2:10 to go.
The ESPN play-by-play shows how it closed. Allisha Gray made two free throws with 10.5 seconds left to cut the lead to 66-63. Golden State won the ensuing jump ball, Burton was fouled and made both free throws with 5.1 seconds left for a 68-63 lead, and Rhyne Howard’s 29-foot three-pointer in the final seconds missed. Burton grabbed the rebound as time ran out.
Key stats from Game 7
- Gabby Williams: 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting, 4-of-8 from three, 6-of-6 at the line, plus four blocks and two steals.
- Veronica Burton: 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, including the clinching free throws.
- Kiah Stokes: 8 points and 13 rebounds.
- Tiffany Hayes: 11 points, despite limping off briefly in the third quarter before returning.
- Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18 points and five assists, and Allisha Gray added 16.
- Angel Reese had 8 points and 12 rebounds. Rhyne Howard was held to 6 points on 3-of-14 shooting and missed all seven of her three-point attempts.
The team numbers tell the story of a defensive grind. Atlanta shot 33% from the field and just 6-of-30 (20%) from three. Golden State blocked eight shots to Atlanta’s two and went 15-of-16 from the free-throw line, compared with the Dream’s 11-of-15. In a five-point game, that gap at the line mattered.
How the 2026 WNBA Finals series played out
The No. 2 seed Valkyries and No. 4 seed Dream were both chasing a first championship, so the league was guaranteed a first-time champion. Both teams swept their semifinals 3-0: Golden State beat the Las Vegas Aces and Atlanta beat the New York Liberty, according to Sporting News.
| Game | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct. 17 | Valkyries 68, Dream 64 |
| Game 2 | Oct. 19 | Dream 79, Valkyries 65 |
| Game 3 | Oct. 21 | Dream 97, Valkyries 71 |
| Game 4 | Oct. 24 | Valkyries 67, Dream 62 |
| Game 5 | Oct. 26 | Valkyries 64, Dream 55 |
| Game 6 | Oct. 29 | Dream 80, Valkyries 69 |
| Game 7 | Oct. 31 | Valkyries 68, Dream 63 |
Atlanta forced Game 7 with an 80-69 win on its home floor on Thursday afternoon, a game that was moved to a 12:30 p.m. Eastern tip at the Hawks’ arena. Allisha Gray scored 23 points in that win, according to ESPN’s series tracker. But in Game 7, Golden State went back to what won its first three games of the series: holding Atlanta in the 60s with defense.
Why this title is historic
The first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history
The WNBA switched its Finals to a best-of-seven format in 2025, and that first series ended in a Las Vegas sweep, as ESPN and CBS Sports both noted ahead of Game 7. This year’s series was the first to go the distance.
A champion in year two
The Valkyries joined the WNBA as an expansion team in 2025. Winning it all in only the franchise’s second season is rare, and Outsports highlighted how quickly head coach Natalie Nakase’s team became a contender. Nakase started Williams, Stokes, Burton, Hayes and Kaila Charles in Game 7, and that group built its win on defense rather than shooting: Golden State made only 5 of 20 threes and still won.
Who is the 2026 WNBA Finals MVP?
Williams was the favorite for Finals MVP heading into Game 7, according to both Outsports and CBS Sports. After a 30-point Game 7 in a title-clinching win, Williams has the strongest case. At the time of writing, we had not yet seen the league’s official announcement, so check the WNBA’s website for confirmation. We’ll update this post once it’s announced.
When is the Valkyries championship parade?
As of Sunday morning, Nov. 1, we had not found an official announcement of a parade or celebration date. The team typically shares event details on its official channels first, so watch the Valkyries’ website and social accounts. Baseball fans just went through the same wait after the Fall Classic; you can catch up on that series in our guide to the 2026 World Series between the Rays and Brewers.
What’s next for the WNBA
With the season over, the league heads into its offseason, with free agency and the 2027 draft ahead. For Golden State, the job is keeping a championship core together. For Atlanta, coach Karl Smesko’s team heads into the winter after coming within one game of the franchise’s first title, with a core of Canada, Gray, Howard and Reese.
If you follow the big trophy moments across sports this fall, see our recap of the 2026 Ballon d’Or winners.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 WNBA championship?
The Golden State Valkyries, who beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 on Oct. 31, 2026, to win the series 4-3.
What was the final score of WNBA Finals Game 7?
Valkyries 68, Dream 63, at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Who scored the most points in Game 7?
Gabby Williams, with 30 points, including 15 in the third quarter. Jordin Canada led Atlanta with 18.
Is this the Valkyries’ first championship?
Yes. It’s the first title in franchise history, won in the team’s second WNBA season. It would also have been Atlanta’s first title, so either way the league was crowning a first-time champion.
Has there ever been a Game 7 in the WNBA Finals before?
No. The Finals became a best-of-seven series in 2025, and this was the first one to go seven games.
Where can I watch Game 7 highlights?
The game aired on USA Network and CNBC and streamed on Peacock, according to Yahoo Sports. Highlights are available on the WNBA’s and ESPN’s websites and official social accounts.
Featured image: Golden State Valkyries home game at Chase Center, August 2025, by Sarah Stierch, released into the public domain (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.
