Gabby Williams couldn’t afford to lose on Pride Night, a game she’d circled all year, and she didn’t hesitate to make a confident statement after her team’s win over the Atlanta Dream. The Golden State Valkyries outplayed Atlanta for the second time in three days on Friday in the franchise’s Pride Night game.

Following the win, Williams made herself pretty clear, remarking, “I couldn’t lose on Pride Night. That’s all I kept telling myself.” Afterward, in the post-game press conference, Williams doubled down on her statements.

“I take Pride Night personal,” Williams said, as per beat reporter Kenzo Fukuda. “This game is probably like the one that everyone has circled on their calendar. And the Bay has just been a pioneer for the Pride movement. I wanted to get here for the best.”

Gabby Williams’ assessment isn’t coming in a vacuum. The Golden State Valkyries, as a franchise, has been built on the ethos of inclusivity. Ever since their start in the WNBA last season, the Valkyries haven’t hesitated to embed themselves into this culture, where every community can exist in a safe space.

The Valkyries center Pride Night on community. It’s not just about mere decorations or turning the Chase Center into a rainbow-themed Valkyries pit. Instead, it’s about including the LGBTQ+ communities of the Bay Area in these celebrations.

To be specific, the franchise announced special giveaways and the introduction of Valkyries Pride merchandise for fans. Furthermore, the Valkyries are major sponsors of the San Francisco LGBTQ+ Film Festivals, reflecting their involvement in this movement.

The Golden State Valkyries’ head coach, Natalie Nakase, also recently shared her views on the franchise’s ethos regarding involvement.

“We’re all about inclusivity, and I love it,” she said as per The Mercury News’ Nathan Canilao. “I love the fact that people can feel their authentic selves here, and we welcome everyone. Sometimes when I get a peek, I’ll look around in Ballhalla, and I just see all the love.”

On Pride Night, Williams, queer herself, refused to lose, especially when she had remained zeroed in on this game across the year. And her statement just after a narrow victory against the Atlanta Dream put her aspirations into perspective.

To ensure her team doesn’t end up on the wrong side of the results, Williams stepped up. Entering the fourth, the Valkyries trailed by 4. That’s when Williams stepped up.

She scored 13 points in the fourth alone to help her team score an impressive 27 points and clinch a three-point win. Gabby Williams finished her night with 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists on Pride Night, eventually earning praise from her head coach.

Gabby Williams Earns a Shoutout From Natalie Nakase for Her Special Performance on Pride Night

On a special Pride Night where the going got tough, Gabby Williams didn’t just shoot baskets. She dictated every move of the game and helped her head coach draw up plays with the sole goal of beating the Atlanta Dream.

Speaking after the win, Nakase didn’t hesitate to pinpoint it during her post-game presser.

“She’s waiting there patiently,” Nakase said. “Gabby came in and she finished strong. She told me what play to draw. So, again shout out to Gabby for letting me know what match-up she wanted and where she wanted the ball. That’s Gabby, though. She’s developing into our closer. She wants you to close, and then players are trusting her to be the ones that are spacing out.”

Across the season, Gabby Williams has been the guiding force behind the Golden State Valkyries. Being one of the team’s best defenders on the court, she helps the franchise shape its defensive identity and anchors its entire defense.

Meanwhile, Williams is also leading the Valkyries on offense, averaging over 16 points per game (per ESPN), and leading them in steals (1.6 per game). And when the night mattered the most to her, Williams showed her expertise on either end of the court to lead her team to a win at home.