CHAMPIONS IN JUST TWO YEARS! THE GOLDEN STATE VALKYRIES MAKE WNBA HISTORY!
The Golden State Valkyries’ remarkable 2026 WNBA Championship is more than a basketball victory. It’s a powerful example of what happens when women’s leadership, strategic investment, talented athletes, and an engaged community come together to create extraordinary results.
On Saturday, October 31, 2026, the Golden State Valkyries made history.
In only their second season as a WNBA franchise, the Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in a thrilling Game 7 at San Francisco’s Chase Center, capturing their first WNBA Championship and becoming the fastest expansion team in league history to win a title.
The victory was historic for another reason: It marked the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
At the center of the celebration was Gabby Williams, whose extraordinary 30-point performance helped secure the championship and earned her the 2026 WNBA Finals MVP award.
But this victory represents something much larger than the final score.
It’s about leadership, investment, opportunity, teamwork, and the power of believing in women.
For THIS IS IT NETWORK™, the Valkyries’ success reinforces a message we believe wholeheartedly: When women are given the resources, support, and opportunities to succeed, remarkable things happen.
A Championship Built on Determination
The Golden State Valkyries entered the WNBA as an expansion franchise in 2025, with the challenge of establishing a competitive team, building an organizational culture, and attracting a loyal fan base.
They exceeded expectations almost immediately.
In their inaugural season, the Valkyries became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its first year.
Rather than treating that achievement as the finish line, the organization continued building.
In 2026, Golden State finished the regular season with an impressive 32–12 record, securing the second seed in the playoffs.
Their championship journey required them to defeat established competitors and navigate a demanding postseason before facing the Atlanta Dream in a seven-game Finals series.
The deciding game was anything but easy.
Golden State trailed 30–24 at halftime, but Gabby Williams delivered an extraordinary second-half performance, scoring 28 of her 30 points after the break.
Williams contributed four blocked shots, while veteran Kiah Stokes added 13 rebounds and helped anchor the team’s defense.
With the championship on the line, Veronica Burton converted two crucial free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory.
The result was a championship that few expansion franchises could imagine achieving so quickly.
And a reminder that building something new doesn’t mean waiting years to create meaningful impact.
The Women Behind the Winning Organization
While the players deserve enormous recognition for their performances on the court, the Golden State Valkyries’ success also reflects the leadership of three remarkable women who helped build the franchise.
Jess Smith, President of the Golden State Valkyries
Smith has played a central role in establishing the team’s business identity, building relationships with fans, developing corporate partnerships, and positioning the franchise as a major force in women’s professional sports.
Under her leadership, the organization has developed a distinctive brand that extends beyond basketball, connecting with the Bay Area through community engagement, entertainment, fashion, and culture.
Ohemaa Nyanin, General Manager
Nyanin was responsible for assembling a competitive roster and helping establish the basketball operations structure of a new franchise.
Her approach emphasized talent evaluation, organizational culture, chemistry, and long-term development.
Rather than relying solely on established superstars, Golden State built a team of players whose individual abilities complemented a shared commitment to winning.
Natalie Nakase, Head Coach
Nakase brought championship experience to Golden State after serving as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces.
As the Valkyries’ first head coach, she helped establish a defensive-minded culture rooted in accountability, preparation, and teamwork.
Her leadership guided the team from an ambitious expansion project to the WNBA’s championship stage in just two seasons.
Together, Smith, Nyanin, and Nakase represent something especially significant: women leading at the highest levels of professional sports.
Their success demonstrates the importance of having women involved in strategic decisions, organizational development, and the creation of opportunities for other women.
Representation in leadership matters. But the opportunity to lead, make decisions, and deliver results matters just as much.
Gabby Williams and the Power of Opportunity
Every championship has defining performances, and Gabby Williams delivered one for the history books.
Williams joined Golden State ahead of the 2026 season and became an essential part of the team’s championship identity.
Her Game 7 performance was remarkable not only because she scored 30 points, but because she delivered when her team needed her most.
She finished the Finals averaging 19.6 points per game and was recognized as the series’ Most Valuable Player.
Williams’ success is also a reminder that careers are not always defined by where they begin.
New environments, strong leadership, supportive teammates, and meaningful opportunities can allow talented individuals to reach new levels of success.
That lesson extends far beyond professional sports.
Whether we’re discussing athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, or creators, the right opportunity can change the trajectory of a career.
For women working to establish themselves in competitive industries, that message is particularly powerful.
Sometimes the difference between potential and achievement is finding an organization that recognizes your value and invests in your success.
Women’s Sports Are Big Business
The Valkyries’ championship is an extraordinary athletic achievement, but their commercial success may be equally significant for the future of women’s professional sports.
The organization has demonstrated that women’s basketball can attract substantial audiences, generate significant revenue, and build valuable commercial partnerships.
Consider the numbers:
- $100 million: The Valkyries became the first women’s professional sports franchise reported to surpass $100 million in annual revenue in 2026, according to Sportico, as reported by Reuters.
- $1 billion: CNBC valued the franchise at approximately $1 billion in May 2026, making it the first WNBA franchise to reach that valuation in its rankings.
- 18,064 fans: The team’s average regular-season home attendance in 2026, leading the WNBA.
- 53 consecutive sellouts: By the end of Game 7, Golden State had sold out every regular-season and postseason home game in its franchise history.
These numbers challenge outdated assumptions about the commercial potential of women’s sports.
They also reinforce the importance of providing women’s teams with professional resources, strategic marketing, competitive facilities, and meaningful investment.
The Valkyries benefit from an ownership group that also owns the Golden State Warriors and operates Chase Center, providing access to established infrastructure, corporate relationships, and business expertise.
That support matters.
It demonstrates what becomes possible when women’s sports organizations receive access to the resources and opportunities that help professional franchises thrive.
Women’s sports are not simply an emerging opportunity. They are a growing business with measurable economic value.
Building a Brand That Fans Believe In
One of the most compelling aspects of the Golden State Valkyries’ story is the speed at which the organization established a passionate community.
From the beginning, the franchise developed a recognizable identity.
Its distinctive violet-and-black branding, strong connection to the Bay Area, and energetic home-game experience helped create a culture that fans embraced.
The team’s home arena, affectionately known as Ballhalla, became a gathering place for supporters who wanted to be part of something special.
The Valkyries weren’t simply selling basketball tickets.
They were building a community.
Fans connected with the athletes, embraced the team’s identity, and became active participants in the franchise’s success.
That engagement helped create opportunities for merchandise sales, sponsorships, corporate partnerships, and continued audience growth.
For brands and organizations across industries, the lesson is significant.
Building a successful business requires more than attracting attention.
It requires creating meaningful relationships with the people you serve.
The most powerful brands don’t simply build audiences. They build communities that believe in their mission.
What the Valkyries’ Victory Means for Women Everywhere
There is a larger conversation surrounding this championship.
What happens when we invest in women?
What happens when women are trusted to lead?
What happens when talented individuals receive the resources and opportunities needed to succeed?
And what happens when a community comes together to support a shared vision?
The Golden State Valkyries offer a compelling example of the possibilities.
Their championship demonstrates the importance of creating environments where women can compete, lead, innovate, and succeed.
But it also highlights the responsibility of businesses, investors, sponsors, and media organizations to support those opportunities.
Women’s sports should receive serious consideration from advertisers and corporate partners.
Women in leadership should have access to meaningful decision-making roles.
Female entrepreneurs should have opportunities to secure investment and grow their businesses.
Women in media should have platforms where their voices and expertise can reach audiences around the world.
These conversations are connected.
Because investing in women isn’t simply about celebrating their achievements after they’ve succeeded.
It’s about providing the opportunities that help make those achievements possible.
Beyond Impressions. Into Impact.
At THIS IS IT NETWORK™, our mission is to empower remarkable women to SCREAM YOUR DREAM™ through entertainment, events, and education, fueled by content, community, and connection.
We believe women deserve platforms that celebrate their accomplishments, elevate their expertise, and create meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth.
We also believe that women’s stories deserve consistent visibility.
Not simply when a championship is won.
Not only when a business reaches a significant financial milestone.
And not just when a remarkable woman makes headlines.
Women’s achievements deserve to be recognized, shared, and supported every day.
The Golden State Valkyries’ championship is an opportunity to celebrate extraordinary athletes and leaders while recognizing the growing influence of women throughout professional sports.
It’s also an opportunity to encourage more businesses and brands to invest in women’s organizations, support female leadership, and build relationships with communities that are eager to participate.
Because the future of women’s sports will be shaped not only by what happens on the court, but by the decisions made in boardrooms, media companies, marketing departments, and communities around the world.
Congratulations, Golden State Valkyries!
To Gabby Williams, Natalie Nakase, Ohemaa Nyanin, Jess Smith, and every athlete, coach, executive, and team member who contributed to this historic championship: Congratulations!
Your success represents the determination, preparation, collaboration, and leadership required to achieve something extraordinary.
And to the Atlanta Dream, congratulations on an impressive season and a hard-fought championship series that helped make WNBA history.
As the league continues to grow, this championship offers another powerful example of the opportunities ahead for women’s professional sports.
For THIS IS IT NETWORK™, the message is clear:
Women’s sports are big business. Women’s leadership drives results. And women’s success deserves to be celebrated.
The Golden State Valkyries didn’t wait for someone else to define what was possible.
They built their organization, believed in their vision, and became champions in just two years.
Now that’s something worth celebrating.
THIS IS IT NETWORK™ | Beyond Impressions. Into Impact.
Sources and Further Reading
- WNBA — Golden State Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream, Game 7 Recap
- Golden State Valkyries — Official 2026 Championship Recap
- WNBA — 2026 Finals Game 7 Live Recap
- Golden State Valkyries — Second Consecutive Season of Home-Game Sellouts
- Reuters — Valkyries First WNBA Franchise to Hit $100 Million in Annual Revenue
- NBC Sports Bay Area — 2026 WNBA Franchise Valuations
- San Francisco Standard — The Valkyries’ Visionaries
- Forbes — The WNBA’s Most Valuable Teams 2026
Editorial note: Financial figures reflect published third-party estimates and reporting. Franchise valuations are estimates rather than confirmed transaction prices.
