The Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA Championship two years after their creation in 2023 in an exhilarating Game 7 against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday evening. Around the Bay Area and at M-A, this achievement has sparked excitement and highlighted the growing recognition of women’s sports.
For many fans, the championship meant more than just a title.“It was really exciting and really fun to watch, and I thought it’s amazing that they could win a championship after two years, and it’s just really impressive and really inspirational,” sophomore Natalie Roman said.
“I think it’s great for young ladies in general to kind of see the possibilities out there, and it’s good to see that the WNBA is getting a lot more coverage, and it’s getting more mainstream, more popular,” Woodshop teacher Matthew Butts said.
Some fans watched the games in community settings, with people hosting watch parties and championship celebrations. “I went to my neighbor’s house actually, and we had food together, and we watched it, and it was really fun. Her mom got super, super excited when they won, and it was just really fun to be around other people,” Roman said.
For those watching Game 7, certain moments in the neck-and-neck matchup stood out. The Valkyries trailed the Dream through the first two quarters, but they made a second-half comeback, bringing the score to a 55-55 with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter. In the final stretch, the Valkyries proved victorious through fierce defensive pressure, steady free throws, and a 30-point game from forward Gabby Williams, scoring the most points in the second half of playoff history, who was then crowned Finals MVP at the end of the night.
“Gabby Williams scored a bunch of points later on in the game, like in the fourth quarter. She made like three threes in a row and almost four in a row, and I almost lost it,” Butts said.
Fans’ joy extended beyond the game itself as they celebrated the Valkyries’ trailblazing lineup and Head Coach Natalie Nakase.
“I really liked the after-game when they were interviewing the people because I love to see what the players have to say and what the coach has to say,” freshman Isabelle Andrews said. “Gabby Williams and Kia Stokes were interviewed at the end of the game, and they seemed like they were having a great time, and they seemed like they were really excited. And I just love seeing people excited after they win.”
The victory has also left fans looking forward to the league’s future. “It’s really important to me that people watch women’s basketball, and I really, really, really support it. I think they are an amazing team, and they deserve all the love and support from all their fans, and it could grow even more. People need to hear about the Valkyries more,” Andrews said.
The championship isn’t only a milestone for the team, but a meaningful moment for individuals in the spirited community fostered by fans. “I am beyond thrilled that there has been such an outpouring of love and support for women’s professional sports, especially basketball,” College and Career Counselor Mai Lien Nguyen said. “Basketball has been my favorite sport since childhood. As a kid, I would have loved having amazing female players to look up to, to cheer for, and just to be a fangirl for. I’m so proud of the Valkyries and everyone who has supported them.”
