The Bay Area’s basketball spotlight is sitting squarely on the Valkyries right now, and Gabby Williams is one of the biggest reasons why. After helping Golden State take Game 1 of the WNBA Finals with a 68-64 win over the Atlanta Dream, Williams spent Sunday at the Warriors’ open practice as the Bay’s two pro teams move in different directions.
Williams arrived at practice on the Valkyries’ off-day with her stock soaring. Her Game 1 line led the way in a night where points were hard to come by for everyone: 26 points on 8-22 shooting, the game’s high total, and the kind of performance that pushed Golden State to its fifth straight playoff win. That run has put the Valkyries just three victories from a championship in only their second season of existence.
The timing of her appearance also landed at a tricky moment for the Warriors, who open their new campaign Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. Expectations are already low heading into the 2026-27 season, and Stephen Curry’s status only adds to the uncertainty. Now 38, Curry missed plenty of time last season because of knee problems, and he tweaked that same knee during practice, leaving his opening-night availability in doubt.
Golden State is also expected to lean more heavily on younger players like Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg, a shift that could make the season a difficult one. For now, though, the brighter basketball story in the Bay belongs to the Valkyries, who return to action Monday night at 8:00 PM E.T. for Game 2 against the Dream with a chance to keep building on their early series lead.
Gary Payton II 🤝 Gabby Williams
— NBA (@NBA) October 18, 2026
Williams is in the building for the @warriors' Open Practice after leading the @valkyries to a Game 1 win in the WNBA Finals yesterday! pic.twitter.com/raWjWM63wo
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