Following the expansion Golden State Valkyries’ historic WNBA championship victory over the Atlanta Dream on October 31, 2026, at Chase Center, WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams—who scored 30 points in the clinching Game 7—revealed new details about her free-agent decision, according to Yahoo Sports. Speaking on the “Bird’s Eye View” podcast, Williams explained that franchise owner Joe Lacob played the decisive role in her move to the Bay Area.
Williams, who previously spent four seasons with the Seattle Storm without capturing a WNBA title, openly embraced her motivation during free agency. “I was 100% ring-chasing in free agency, and I’m like, no one believes me, but if you were on those calls, if you talked and heard those conversations I had,” Williams told host Sue Bird.
The Phone Call in Turkey
Recalling her recruitment process while she was abroad, Williams pointed to a direct phone call from Lacob while she was in Turkey, where she had played for Fenerbahçe. At the time, the team owner made his ambitions crystal clear. According to Yahoo Sports, Lacob reached her in traffic and told her definitively: “There’s no one who’s ever going to do it. He’s like, ‘I never lose. I never lose.’”
Williams recalled telling the owner that she wanted a team that could take her to a championship after years of falling short in the postseason. Lacob had already established his aggressive timeline back in 2023, setting a five-year championship goal when the franchise was first announced. He later reiterated that exact pledge to head coach Natalie Nakase during her October 2024 interview.
Validating the Valkyries’ Rapid Rise
While Golden State had previously attempted to secure Williams during her time under Seattle’s core designation in 2025—sending Nakase to pitch her in Turkey—she ultimately reached the open market this spring. Lacob teamed with Nakase and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin to pitch a long-term vision centred on building a sustainable dynasty.
That vision materialized far quicker than anticipated. The Valkyries secured a multi-year contract with Williams in April 2026. In her debut season with the franchise, Williams delivered a stellar campaign, averaging a career-high 14.4 points, shooting 34.2% from beyond the arc, and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Her individual production helped anchor a Golden State defense that ranked first in the league by allowing a league-low 75.1 points per game during a 32-12 regular season.
The team’s rapid ascension culminated in a thrilling 68-63 Game 7 victory over Atlanta on October 31, allowing Lacob’s organization to shatter its own five-year projection in just two seasons. Reflecting on the historic milestone during the team’s championship celebrations, Lacob acknowledged the astonishing pace of their success, calling the two-year turnaround “insane.”
The convergence of ownership ambition, coaching strategy, and veteran execution ultimately redefined the trajectory of a brand-new franchise. For Williams, the calculated pursuit of a ring yielded the exact championship validation she sought, cementing both her legacy and the Valkyries’ unprecedented ascent in professional women’s basketball history.