After sweeping the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in the semifinals, the cast of the Golden State Valkyries hugged each other. Perhaps those smiles on their faces were of ecstasy at reaching the Finals, or maybe it was their first assurance that they had proven their doubters wrong. The Valkyries have officially established a new order in the league, and it’s a welcome sight for everyone.
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Perhaps the proudest person watching the Valkyries win was UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. Even when the Valkyries were playing the Dallas Wings in the first round, the Huskies’ head coach rooted for Golden State against his golden girl Paige Bueckers. Why? Because it was all math for the UConn coach.
“I’m really proud of all of them, and that’s probably the one team that I’ve watched play the most,” Auriemma told reporters on Saturday after the Huskies’ practice, per Nathan Canilao. “They were playing Dallas, and somebody said, ‘Hey, you know, you’re rooting for Paige.’ I said, ‘No, I’m not. I’m rooting for Golden State.’ (They have) four to (Dallas’) one and a half (Huskies) because Azzi (Fudd) didn’t play.”
All four—Tiffany Hayes, Gabby Williams, Kaitlyn Chen, and Kiah Stokes—are Auriemma’s former players. It’s hard to see why a coach would play favoritism among his students. The Valkyries won the first-round series 2-1 over Bueckers and the Wings before sweeping defending champions Las Vegas in the semifinals.
The Valkyries have been the best defensive team in the league during the regular season, and they have maintained that elite presence during the postseason as well (although the Atlanta Dream have the No. 1 spot in the postseason). At the core of their rise has been Auriemma’s four Huskies.
“They’re all the same, but they’re all unique in their own way. To me, the most amazing thing is that every kid that spent that time here has certain qualities that make you win, and make you win championships,” Auriemma added.
“I don’t think I’d be overstating it that if those four were not on that team, they wouldn’t be where they are today.”
Whether she is appreciated enough or not is a story for another day, but it would be a big mistake to ignore the impact Gabby Williams has had on this team. She has been a menace on defense all season, and her elite defensive side was out in the open during the FIBA World Cup.
Geno Auriemma makes a bold statement about Gabby Williams
During the postseason, Williams has upped her game on both ends of the floor. She was great during the regular season, but she has become a nightmare for his opponents once the playoffs began. Williams has shifted gears in the postseason.
During the regular season, she averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Those numbers have skyrocketed in the postseason. In six games after two series, she is averaging 22.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Her numbers have spiked in every major category, even her shooting. She is shooting 44.9% from the field and 40.5% from the 3-point line. These numbers have significantly increased compared to the regular season.
“The best story in all of the WNBA is the impact that Gabby Williams is having on the league, offensively and defensively,” Auriemma pressed.
However, looking at the Valkyries, it would be a mistake if the Atlanta Dream particularly targeted Williams. The soul of the Valkyries doesn’t lie in one player. They have been resilient as a team in the most difficult situations. The Valkyries have relied on their unity throughout the season, and they are yet to abandon it. How do you think they defeated the defending champions led by arguably the greatest player in her prime?
“That is a TEAM, and I think they really play great team ball…On any given night, any of them can have 15, 20 on you because they share the ball, and…it seems like nobody cares who gets the credit,” Las Vegas coach Hammon told reporters after the semifinals loss. “And that’s a really special thing to have on a team, and I think Golden State has that.”
The Valkyries are set to face the Atlanta Dream in the Finals. Atlanta is at the top of the table in both offense and defense, but you never count a team out from the Bay Area.
In 2023, when the Valkyries became the first expansion team in 15 years, co-owner Joe Lacob predicted that the team would win the championship in the first five years, and here they are, fulfilling his prophecy.