Gabby Williams Carries Valkyries to 74-69 Win Over Mystics

SAN FRANCISCO — The wins keep coming. The Golden State Valkyries continued to prove that confidence, chemistry, and relentless defense can overcome almost any challenge, rallying in the fourth quarter to defeat the Washington Mystics 74-69 before another sold-out crowd at Chase Center on Saturday night.

In front of 18,064 fans, the franchise's 36th consecutive home sellout, the Valkyries erased a late deficit with a barrage of timely three-pointers and suffocating defense, extending their franchise-record winning streak to nine games while further cementing themselves as the WNBA's hottest team.

Golden State entered the contest riding a wave of momentum, having won 12 of its previous 14 games while establishing itself as one of the league's premier defensive teams. The Valkyries came into the evening allowing a WNBA-best 76.1 points per game and had held opponents to just 69.2 points over their previous five contests.

Head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized before tipoff that, despite those impressive numbers, her team still needed to be the aggressor. By the time the final buzzer sounded, her players had answered that challenge in spectacular fashion.

Mystics Test Golden State Early

Washington presented a difficult matchup from the opening tip. The Mystics entered the game as the WNBA's top rebounding team, boasting a physical frontcourt led by Shakira Austin. The talented center once again showcased her dominance inside, finishing with 18 points and matching her career high with 16 rebounds as Washington attempted to control the paint and the glass.

The Mystics gained early momentum, building an 18-10 advantage late in the opening quarter after a three-pointer by Michaela Onyenwere.

Valkyries Answer with a Momentum-Shifting Run

Rather than allowing the game to slip away, Golden State responded exactly the way championship-caliber teams often do. The Valkyries answered with a remarkable 23-6 run that completely shifted the game's momentum and sent them into halftime with a 33-28 lead.

The contest remained physical throughout. Midway through the third quarter, Washington guard Sonia Citron went to the floor following a hard, inadvertent elbow from Cecilia Zandalasini while battling for a rebound underneath the Valkyries' basket. Citron eventually returned to the game and finished with 12 points, highlighting the competitive nature of a matchup that featured relentless effort from both sides.

Golden State's balanced attack kept the offense afloat for much of the evening. Every Valkyries player who entered the game found the scoring column, with three finishing in double figures and the bench making a significant impact.

The reserves outscored Washington's bench 25-16 behind strong performances from Janelle Salaün, Tiffany Hayes, and Kaila Charles. Salaün contributed nine points on efficient shooting, Hayes added seven points, and Charles knocked down a timely third-quarter three-pointer while finishing with six points.

Gabby Williams Takes Over in Crunch Time

As impressive as the supporting cast was, the final minutes belonged to Gabby Williams.

With Washington holding a 65-59 lead late in the fourth quarter, Williams refused to let the Valkyries' winning streak come to an end. She ignited the comeback by drilling a three-pointer with 5:55 remaining to trim the deficit to three. Moments later, Kiah Stokes buried a clutch three of her own to tie the game, energizing the Chase Center crowd.

Williams wasn't finished.

The veteran forward continued to carry Golden State down the stretch, knocking down another enormous three-pointer during the decisive run while making plays on both ends of the floor. Her confidence and composure sparked an offensive explosion that completely swung the game in the Valkyries' favor.

Defense and Clutch Shooting Seal the Win

Golden State's late surge also featured clutch perimeter shooting from Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton as the team closed the contest on a dominant 15-4 run, including a 15-2 stretch fueled by consecutive three-pointers from Williams, Stokes, Thornton, and Burton.

Thornton's go-ahead three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining gave Golden State the lead for good before Burton delivered another dagger from beyond the arc with 2:14 left to extend the advantage to six points. Combined with a defensive effort that smothered Washington over the closing minutes, the Valkyries once again demonstrated why they have become one of the league's most resilient teams.

Williams finished with a team-high 18 points while adding five assists and three steals, marking the 12th time this season she has led Golden State in scoring. Burton orchestrated the offense brilliantly, recording the seventh double-double of her career with 11 points and 11 assists while grabbing five rebounds, collecting two steals, and committing just one turnover in 32 minutes. Thornton also reached double figures with 11 points while knocking down three of her six attempts from beyond the arc.

Nakase praised Burton's leadership after the game, saying, "V with her seventh double-double, and also with just one turnover. I think that's an even bigger highlight. V just kept leading. She kept supporting, she kept encouraging."

She also highlighted the team's execution in crunch time, explaining, "Whether it's coming out of an action we practiced... it's about continuing to find the hot hand, making the right reads was really key down the stretch."

Nakase also credited her team's collective defensive effort in the closing minutes. "Team effort," she said. "It was beautiful at that last five minutes, and so for us to rely on our defense down the stretch was huge."

Williams pointed to the team's versatility as one of its greatest strengths.

"I just love that we win in so many different ways and in so many different situations," Williams said. "We're winning when it's easier, winning when it's hard, when we're on the road, when we're home... We're just always finding a way, and I just love that about us."

She also praised the selfless nature of the roster after several teammates delivered timely baskets during the fourth-quarter rally.

"I love when my teammates are able to make big plays like that," Williams said. "We're just gonna hype each other up, we're gonna be happier for each other than we are for ourselves. And I think that's our strength, we just feed off each other's energy."

That energy continues to fuel one of the WNBA's most remarkable stories. The Valkyries have now won nine straight games, 13 of their last 15, improved to 11 home victories, held an opponent below 70 points for the seventh time, and committed just eight turnovers, including only two after halftime.

What many considered a successful inaugural season has now become merely the foundation for something far greater.

With every sold-out Ballhalla crowd, every defensive stop, and every clutch late-game rally, the Valkyries have surpassed the expectations set during their first year and have firmly established themselves as a legitimate WNBA championship contender.

UP NEXT

• The Valkyries host the Mystics again on Monday, July 20, tipping off at 7 p.m. PT on KPIX, KOVR, 95.7 The Game, the Audacy App, and ESPN 1320. 
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.