The Golden State Valkyries captured the 2026 WNBA championship in just their second season, becoming the first expansion team in North American professional sports to win a title that quickly. They achieved the feat without a single All-WNBA player, a first in league history.
Finals MVP Gabby Williams emphasized the team's culture: "All it took was good people. That's it." The Valkyries exceeded expectations after making the playoffs in their inaugural 2025 season. Despite trading their 2026 first-round pick (No. 8, Flau'jae Johnson) for two second-rounders and losing center Iliana Rupert to maternity leave, the team turned a 10-7 midseason record into a 22-5 finish, securing the No. 2 seed.
The Valkyries' defense was historic. They posted a 99.1 defensive rating, more than four points per 100 possessions better than any other team. They led the league in opponent turnover rate (19.2%) and opponent true shooting (53.5%). Williams, Veronica Burton, and Kiah Stokes earned All-Defensive honors. The team held opponents to a league-low 14 restricted-area attempts per game and 31.1 points in the paint per game.
Offense remained a weakness. The Valkyries ranked seventh in offensive rating (108.2) and last in field goal percentage (42.2%). No player averaged 15 points per game; Williams led with 14.4. They relied heavily on three-point shooting (league-record 30.3 attempts per game) but struggled when shots didn't fall. Their scoring woes nearly ended their season in the first round against the Dallas Wings, where they overcame a 16-point deficit.
In the semifinals, they swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces despite shooting 36.4% from the field. The Finals against the Atlanta Dream featured four wins with scores of 68, 67, 64, and 68 points. In Game 7, Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half, including the go-ahead three-pointer with two minutes left. "I stayed patient. I trusted her," Williams said of coach Natalie Nakase's advice.
Looking ahead, the Valkyries have significant salary cap space for the 2027 season. General manager Ohemaa Nyanin previously stated the draft-night trade was made to maintain flexibility for a potential max free agent. The team has only $3.2 million in guaranteed contracts for 2027, with the salary cap expected to exceed $7 million. Top free agents include Napheesa Collier, Jackie Young, Kelsey Mitchell, and Kelsey Plum. Collier, a former Defensive Player of the Year, would fit the Valkyries' defensive system while boosting offense.
The Valkyries hold their own draft picks (Nos. 14, 29, 44) in 2027. They may consider a draft-and-stash candidate like French forward Aïnhoa Risacher, who aligns with their defense-first philosophy and would join three other French players on the roster.
