I watched the whole game, and I’ll admit it: I was pulling for the underdogs. How could you not? The Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship in their second season, beating the Atlanta Dream 68–63 in the first Game 7 in league history. That’s quite a story. But what made it so enjoyable to watch was the way they got there.

This wasn’t a team built around a collection of superstar names. No one needed to take turns being the hero. They had good players, role players who understood their jobs, and a group that seemed to know exactly what it needed from one another. Together, they built a culture where everybody seemed to understand their role. That togetherness was the team’s secret sauce.

They worked. They defended. They made life difficult for Atlanta, and they stayed together when the game got tight. That’s a pretty good recipe for winning basketball.

Gabby Williams Took Over When It Mattered Most

And then Gabby Williams decided it was time to take over. Williams scored 30 points, including an astonishing 28 in the second half. She added four blocks and two steals, and when the Valkyries needed someone to make a play, she kept finding ways to do it.

There was no stopping her. She was named Finals MVP, and deservedly so. Sometimes a player has a night when everything comes together. Williams picked a pretty good time to have hers.

But I’d be careful not to make this championship story all about one player. Williams provided the finishing touch, but the Valkyries had to earn the opportunity to be there. Their defence, their effort and their willingness to play for one another made this possible.

What I Enjoyed Most Was the Valkyries’ Determined Defence

We spend so much time talking about star players, big contracts and individual statistics that it’s easy to overlook what a connected team can accomplish. Golden State gave us a pretty good reminder. And there’s another reason to appreciate this story. Women’s basketball deserves nights like this, games that capture people’s attention because the competition is terrific and the players give us something worth watching.

I watched every minute, and I came away smiling. Congratulations to the Valkyries. They didn’t just win a championship. They reminded basketball fans that a team can be greater than the sum of its parts.

Great basketball game. If you enjoy basketball, do yourself a favour and watch next season’s WNBA championship finals.

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