SAN FRANCISCO – A couple of switches flipped in Gabby Williams with her 1-of-7 from the field entering the fourth quarter and her Golden State Valkyries trailing 55-51.
The first one was taking advantage of the rest of her teammates’ granted her, particularly center Kiah Stokes’ all-defense caliber rim protection and Kaitlyn Chen’s microwave scoring off the bench. The second was Williams channeling her star power, her closer abilities, and her truly special two-way abilities, which make her the engine of the Valkyries. And the third was channeling the energy of Pride Night and the rapturous Ballhalla crowd.
“I couldn’t lose on Pride Night,” Gabby Williams cried out to the fans in her courtside interview to a thunderous applause. A gladiator, a Valkyrie, celebrating her 13 straight fourth quarter points to secure Golden State a huge 78-75 win over the Atlanta Dream.
“That’s all I kept telling myself.”
When the Valkyries needed a bucket, it was Williams slicing the Dream defense to finish at the rim. When the Valkyries needed a stop, it was Williams picking Atlanta guard Jordan Canada’s pockets clean for a one-woman fastbreak layup. And when the Valkyries needed a closer, it was Williams sinking the necessary free throws to put the Dream away.
But for Williams, it wasn’t a one-woman effort. The Valkyries forward credited her teammates for their meaningful contribution in their second straight win over a top-four team. But when asked why, she told the Ballhalla crowd she couldn’t lose on Pride Night, why this night in particular felt special, Williams explained what she wanted to achieve for the fans.
“For the gays,” Williams joked, echoing Stokes at the podium next to her and embodying Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve’s viral quote the past week.
“I take Pride Night personally. I mean, this game is probably like the one that everyone has circled on their calendar. And you know, the Bay Area historically has been a pioneer for the Pride movement, and so I wanted to get [the win] for the day.”
Gabby Williams is a rising star for Valkyries
Williams’ Pride Night heroics are just a taste of what she’s done for the Valkyries as of late. Over the last nine games, Williams has averaged 19.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals while shooting 46.3% on FGs and 33.3% from beyond the arc. After an adjustment period with her new team, she and the Valkyries have found a way to take her offense to a new level.
“Our philosophy of opening that room for her is what actually made her a better offensive player,” coach Natalie Nakase said before tipoff. “She’s already amazing from the jump. It’s just the fact that we were able to provide her space, right? So that the rim opens. When she can see the gaps and attack downhill, whether it’s right or left, she can blow by so many matchups. Just her ability to play free, too, within our flow and our after actions.”
In a signature sequence, with the Valkyries trailing by two late in the fourth quarter, Williams nailed a tough mid-range jumper. And on the following possession, the Golden State star stripped the ball from Canada to set up the lead-taking layup. The kind of sequence that wins games.
“I told you guys, what did I say on day one? I said she’s one of the best players in the world,” Nakase exclaimed after the win. “She’s our star. She’s definitely an All-Star. But I think she’s obviously going to give credit to her teammates, because that’s who she is. She’s the most humble star I think I’ve ever coached before, and that’s what makes her shine even more.”
It wasn’t Williams alone. Stokes’ 13 points and seven blocks proved critical for a Valkyries team in short supply of offense and in need of a rim protector against a tall Dream team. Stokes explained that the budding communication between her and the perimeter defenders allowed for the trust to properly funnel Atlanta to her, where she could swat away their shots. And as Nakase said, they needed every one of her blocks in a three-point win.
But Williams took the Valkyries to the finish line, a sign that she’s becoming the closer they always envisioned.
“She’s developing into our closer,” Nakase said. “She wants to close, and then our players are trusting her too. To be the ones who are spacing [the floor] out. So, yeah, very proud.”
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