For most of the first half of the WNBA Finals’ Game 7, Gabby Williams had barely made an impact on the scoreboard: two points. But with the Golden State Valkyries staring at a championship slipping away, she took over the game, turning a quiet start into the defining performance of the historic night, beginning her escapades in the third quarter. For her play, she earned recognition from all over the basketball world.
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“15 in the 3Q for GABBY WILLIAMS,” the NBA posted on X, attaching a highlight reel of her scoring.
“Golden State leads heading into the final frame in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on USA Network and Peacock🔥.”
The WNBA’s official page also noted her outstanding third quarter, posting on its X, “Gabby Williams is going OFF 😮💨.”
It happened in the third. Heading into the halftime break, Williams had managed just two points as the Atlanta Dream led the game 30-24, looking to take home their first WNBA championship. Golden State needed a spark, and Williams delivered, scoring 15 points on 50% shooting, outscoring the entire Dream squad by herself in the period.
ESPN reporter Alexa Philippou was among those stunned by Williams’ fiery-hot offensive form. At one point in the third, as she noted, Williams rattled off 13 straight points. Almost entirely due to her efforts, the Valkyries took the lead, heading into the fourth quarter up 45-44.
Williams also set the record for most points in the second half of a Finals game, logging 28 to finish with a game-high 30 points. At one point, that scoring effort was even more impressive.
As reporter Noa Dalzell noted, at one point in the fourth, Williams had almost as many points in the second half as all her opponents combined. The Dream scored 34 points in the second half.
She wasn’t just limited to the third quarter either, making big plays with the game hanging in the balance. With about 2:19 left in the fourth and the score tied at 57, Williams hit a go-ahead three-pointer to take the lead, and the Valkyries never trailed after that point. For her efforts, Williams was named the Finals MVP.
“All it took was good people,” she said after the game. “All we heard last year was we don’t have no stars. We don’t have no talent. Yeah right! We got good people. We got good people. We got winners. We got people who are ready to put their bodies on the floor to win a game.”
Williams’ heroics have brought the Valkyries their first WNBA championship, and as she etched her name into history, she became the defining part of a night that the basketball world couldn’t ignore.