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Golden State Valkyries set ‘Super Bowl era’ record with historic WNBA championship win

The Golden State Valkyries clinched their inaugural WNBA title by defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the Finals on Saturday night, marking the franchise’s first championship in just its second season of existence. The team, founded in 2025, built its core through an expansion draft that brought in Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, then bolstered the roster in 2026 with the additions of Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes, under the guidance of head coach Natalie Nakase.

Their victory sets a new benchmark as the quickest championship by an expansion franchise in the Super Bowl era of American professional sports, surpassing the previous best of the 1970‑71 Milwaukee Bucks, who won in their third season. The achievement underscores the rapid rise of the Valkyries and the growing competitiveness of the WNBA.

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