SAN FRANCISCO — Gabby Williams has cemented her status as the centerpiece of the Golden State Valkyries, but her path to WNBA Finals stardom was forged through years of positional experimentation and organizational frustration. Selected fourth overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2018 draft, Williams struggled to find a definitive home on the court during her early professional career.
Positional Experimentation in Chicago
During her tenure with the Sky, coaching staff routinely shifted Williams across multiple roles, asking her to play the power forward and small forward positions, and occasionally deploying her as a backup point guard despite having no prior experience at the position. Reflecting on those formative years in an interview on retired WNBA star Sue Bird’s podcast, Williams described her utility-player status memorably, stating she felt like “the duct tape that closes the leaks.”
Beyond tactical confusion, friction with the franchise’s front office intensified in 2021 due to miscommunication regarding her commitments to the French national team. Believing she had secured an agreement allowing her to skip training camp, Williams did not report on time, prompting the Sky to suspend her contract and trade her to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Finding Stardom Overseas and in Golden State
Williams’ breakout as an elite wing scorer and foundational centerpiece occurred largely overseas, where international play offered both a clear role and significantly higher compensation than the WNBA’s historical maximum contracts, which were capped at $250,000. Her international success extended to the international stage, where she helped transform the French national team—bolstered by her heritage through her French grandmother—into a powerhouse that pushed Team USA to the limit in both the 2024 Olympic gold-medal game and the 2026 FIBA World Cup championships.
Now starring for the Valkyries under a maximum contract worth $1.19 million, Williams anchors an offense that depends on her perimeter shooting and a defense driven by her relentless athleticism. However, Game 2 of the WNBA Finals exposed the risks of that reliance; Williams struggled offensively, finishing with 14 points on 3-for-15 shooting as the Valkyries fell 79-65 to the Atlanta Dream, evening the series at one game apiece.
The Stakes Ahead in Atlanta
With the series shifting to Atlanta for Game 3, the Valkyries require a bounce-back performance from Williams to regain control. Meanwhile, former Sky forward Angel Reese delivered a historic 30-point, 16-rebound performance for the Dream in Game 2, underscoring a broader league narrative in which former Chicago players continue to flourish after leaving the franchise. Williams’ evolution highlights how clear organizational vision and player prioritization can unlock elite potential.