WNBA Finals Takeaways: Valkyries make good on promise with first title in second season
The Golden Valkyries won their first WNBA championship in only their second season of existence after defeating the Atlanta Dream in a historic Game 7. The team's success is attributed to a strong defensive mindset and a focus on team-oriented play rather than individual star power.
Why it matters
This victory validates the rapid expansion strategy of the WNBA and highlights the impact of organizational culture in professional sports.
Turning promises into prophecies — that's what Saturday's Game 7 was about.
Go back one year, and before the confetti had even hit the floor in Phoenix, Angel Reese had let it be known that she was "manifesting the Finals."
Yet even earlier and bolder than that was Joe Lacob's proclamation.
The owner of the Golden State Valkyries stated in 2023 that the expansion franchise would claim a title within its first five seasons.
And it may have taken overcoming cross-country travel, schedule conflicts, a star-studded opponent and the first-ever Game 7 in WNBA Finals history to make it happen, but the Valkyries did just that.
The 68-63 win over the Atlanta Dream cashed that record $50 million expansion-fee cheque Lacob wrote not so long ago, turned him into a prophet and brought the Valkyries their first WNBA championship in just Year 2 of existence.
Headlinne story · 6 newsrooms
Golden State Valkyries Win First WNBA Title in Historic Game Seven
What every outlet reported, where they differ, and how each framed it →
Also covering this story
6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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