Golden State Valkyries defeat Atlanta Dream to capture first WNBA crown
Gabby Williams, named Most Valuable Player, set records for most points (137) and most steals (18) in the WNBA Finals.
In a thrilling conclusion to the WNBA Finals, Opal Miela Sowah led the Golden State Valkyries to an exhilarating 68-63 victory over Izzy Borlase's Atlanta Dream, securing Australia's first-ever championship in the WNBA. The 26-year-old, who entered the league's inaugural game seven at San Francisco's Chase Centre, aimed to join 11 other Australian winners in this prestigious competition.
Sowah, despite not taking the court as her development contract prevented her from playing, remained an enthusiastic cheerleader for her team. She notably supported Gabby Williams, who delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 30 points with four blocks, setting a new WNBA finals record for most points scored in a single half. Veronica Burton, a former Bendigo Spirit star, contributed 10 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists, helping Golden State clinch their maiden championship in the franchise's second season.
Though Borlase's Atlanta Dream fell short of the title, she made a significant impact from the bench. The 22-year-old registered eight points and two rebounds in 14 minutes of game time. Her standout moment was sinking a three-pointer in the third quarter, breaking the Valkyries' 6-0 run, and later scoring a three-point play in the fourth period.
A championship would have concluded a remarkable year for Borlase, who became the youngest MVP in the WNBL's 15-year history, made her Women's World Cup debut with the Opals, and played her first minutes in the American league.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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