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4 clusters · 9 sources · 49 days · First seen · Last updated

Golden State Valkyries 2026 season

Overview

In early July 2026, guard Gabby Williams was announced as a starter for the WNBA All-Star Game, becoming the first French player to begin the event. The surprise announcement by commissioner Cathy Engelbert and Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase highlighted Williams' rise as a leading scorer and defensive anchor for the Bay-area team.

Two weeks later, the Valkyries had climbed to second place in the league with a 19-8 record, just half a game behind the Las Vegas Aces. Coach Nakase received praise for her roster management, while Williams continued to lead the team, averaging 14.8 points per game. The Valkyries’ strong defense and depth positioned them as legitimate championship contenders during the mid-season stretch.

On July 25, NBA 2K27 released its first set of player ratings, giving Williams a 91 overall rating, tying her with several teammates for the tenth-best mark in the game. That same day, Williams signed a three-year contract with the Golden State Valkyries worth $3,748,500, fully guaranteed, with a base salary of $1,190,000 for the 2026 season. The deal set a new benchmark for WNBA salaries and underscored her growing profile on and off the court.

By late August, Williams emerged as the frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award, holding the top betting odds. She has been central to the Valkyries' league-best defense, which allows only 76.7 points per game. Coach Nakase praised Williams' defensive instincts, describing her as having a “cat-like” ability to study opponents and anticipate plays.

Entities

Gabby Williams · A'ja Wilson · Golden State Valkyries · Natalie Nakase

Timeline

  1. 23 days ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Gabby Williams leads Defensive Player of the Year race

    Golden State Valkyries' Gabby Williams is the frontrunner for the Defensive Player of the Year award, anchoring the league's best defense with elite steals and high-efficiency defensive instincts.

  2. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Gabby Williams Leads NBA 2K27 All-Star Ratings and Signs Record WNBA Deal

    Gabby Williams receives a 91 rating in NBA 2K27 and signs a fully guaranteed three‑year, $3.75 M contract with the Golden State Valkyries, boosting her 2026 net worth to $1.5‑$2 M.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Golden State Valkyries climb to second place, become WNBA championship contenders

    The Golden State Valkyries rise to second in the WNBA, with coach Natalie Nakase praised and Gabby Williams leading the offense, while recent playoff games saw Valkyries and Lynx players post double‑digit point

  4. 2 months ago

    [SPORTS] 3 sources
    Gabby Williams becomes first French All-Star starter for WNBA's Golden State Valkyries

    Gabby Williams was named a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game, becoming the first French player to do so and highlighting her key role with the Golden State Valkyries.

Sources

basketusa.com · clutchpoints.com · efj.org.jm · essentiallysports.com · fanSided.com · missionlocal.org · theathletic.co.uk · timesng.com · trashtalk.co

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history