Why Gabby Williams says the Valkyries are her perfect fit
Gabby Williams landed exactly where she hoped—the Golden State Valkyries feel like the perfect WNBA fit for her Bay Area roots, defensive identity, and championship chase. After a career-best offensive start in Golden State, she even asked ESPN, "Is manifestation real?" because joining the second-year franchise feels like a pinch-me moment. The All-Star forward's move is reshaping how fans watch the Valkyries in a milestone WNBA season.
Key Takeaways
- Williams told ESPN she felt "paralysis" in free agency until a call from owner Joe Lacob convinced her Golden State was the only place to win a title.
- Through 18 games, she leads the Valkyries with a career-high 16.3 points per game and has become the team's on-court centerpiece.
- Williams signed a three-year, $3.75 million deal with Golden State, telling ESPN and Roundtable that her first WNBA championship is now her top priority.
- She told USA Today's Meghan L. Hall in June how it feels to be part of the league's 30th season as a new face in the Bay Area.
Why did Gabby Williams choose the Golden State Valkyries?
Williams entered her first unrestricted free agency weighing pitches from multiple teams, coaches, and peers. She told ESPN that the decision left her stuck until Golden State owner Joe Lacob called on the eve of the signing window.
For 20 minutes, they talked about what she wanted in her seventh WNBA season: more winning, more responsibility, and room to grow. Williams recalled Lacob telling her, "This is why we are going to win, this is why it would be silly for you to go anywhere else ... I want to build dynasties here." She replied that championships are why she plays and said she was convinced she would not win anywhere else.
Williams had long believed the Bay Area needed a WNBA team. She spent part of her teenage years in Alameda, played local AAU ball, and watched the Valkyries from afar last season, impressed that the expansion club never "imploded" through injuries and lineup changes. For more streaming and sports-TV angles on league milestones, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
How is Gabby Williams performing with the Valkyries?
Williams signed a multi-year deal and arrived as Golden State's biggest free-agent splash. Eighteen games in, she leads the team in scoring at 16.3 points per game—the best offensive stretch of her WNBA career, according to ESPN.
Her defense still defines her résumé, but the Valkyries' selfless, ball-movement system has unlocked more offense. She is shooting a career-best 37.1% from three and already has 36 made triples with more than half the season left. Coach Natalie Nakase calls her "one of the best two-way players in the world" and says Williams has evolved into the group's leader.
Roundtable reported Golden State at 11-7 and fifth in the standings after a 77-66 win over Atlanta on June 24. Williams is the team's leading scorer and vocal leader, averaging 16.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals.
What does the WNBA's 30th season mean for Gabby Williams?
As the league celebrates its 30th season, Williams is one of its most visible new storylines. In a June 23 USA Today Sports Seriously video, she told host Meghan L. Hall how it feels to be part of that milestone while wearing Valkyries purple.
Back on the court, Williams told ESPN she has never won a WNBA title and that a championship is now her top priority. "Is manifestation real?" she asked. "Because this is just a pinch me moment." For a second-year franchise pushing toward the playoffs, that belief may matter as much as any stat line.