Valkyries MVP Gabby Williams talks about the love on her team

Please welcome to the stage, your 2026 WNBA Finals MVP, Gabby Williams. I have to ask you, Gabby. It's game seven at Ballhalla. It has been a hard-fought series. That final buzzer goes off, and you are a WNBA champion. What is going through your mind at that moment? Is this on? Can you hear me? Oh, sorry. Not my fault. So, um... I just, remember, I just wanted to sprint to my teammates. Like, I couldn't wait to just hug these freaking goobers. Cheers. Kaylin showed up in a damn hot dog costume. They're belting, 'Best Thing I Never Had' by Beyonce. Guys, this is an hour before the biggest game of our entire lives. Kai and KT and Tip are taking us to church before the game. Chachi's starting our clap. I'm just going to run to these guys. I love them. Thank you. There was a moment in the second half, Gabby. I think at any level, any sport, one of the most clutch. Championship stretches of performance and play we've ever seen from anybody. As you took over this game and scored 28 points in the second half, what was that feeling like as you were going through it? I mean, what felt great is if I didn't, or if I did or if I didn't do it, these guys would have loved me the same, honestly. And I think when you feel that, the pressure goes off, and the basket is as big as this logo. Um, game two, we lost at home and I remember I looked at them and I was like, dang guys, I'm sorry. I couldn't hit ----. And they were like, it's okay. It's all good. You'll get the next one. But that was, that was all season. Look, they're all laughing. Cause they know exactly what I mean. They're like, we, everything was so light. Like, and everyone asked me what it's like to have the ball in my hands. It don't feel any different from the first to the fourth quarter because these guys treat me the same, no matter what. Best two way player in the world, back to back, all defensive team selections. What does it mean to have defense be such a Part of your basketball identity. It's so funny because I probably drove these guys crazy. And then look at, um, I, I made a lot of mistakes this year, but the, uh, Kia Stokes, V, all these motherfuckers. Sorry, I'm turning in that. I made a lot of mistakes, but I played as hard as I could. I played as hard as we could. We all did. They covered up for me, and it was so fun to play on a team that was defensive-minded like me. It's what I came for. So it was just fun. Everything was fun. Be your true self! So you joined this franchise in just its second season. And obviously there's aspirations as you come into the year, but winning a championship not just with this group, but with this particular franchise and what it means to do it so quickly, What does that mean to you, and how can you encapsulate that? I'd like to take a moment to embarrass some people. Are you comfortable? Can my family please stand up? So the woman on my left, this is my agent. I called her the night before I decided to come to Golden State, and I was like, I don't know, I got a feeling about this. I got a feeling. She was like, Gabby, bet on yourself. Bet on yourself. So thanks to this amazing woman, I came here. Next, I have my best friend who, when we were in middle school, we would run down the halls, and she would go, what's my favorite way? We were like 12, who cares? Cheers. My sister and her best friend who drove three hours every day to come to every single game. Of course, my partner who spent the entire finals with me. Hi. Hi. You know, the mood swings with me coming down, and she made sure that I changed my mind and got me ready. We don't win if she's not here, everybody. Thank you, everybody. To my beautiful mother, to my beautiful mother, same thing. She drove, brought me groceries from Costco every day, brought me coffee in the morning to make sure I didn't have anything to do but focus on basketball. My niece and my nephew were the life of every party. Are you ready? So I just want to take a second to let everyone know that I couldn't do what I did without them here. And Gabby, lastly, Ballhalla. What can you say about the greatest fans of the WNBA? I was literally smiling. I could not stop smiling during the warm-ups of game seven because I was like how ridiculous is I'm in the best arena in the entire planet. I played in the Olympics. I play on the biggest stages. I walk in. It's Halloween. People have for the gay shirt on. People are dressed as my cat. And I am literally cheesing so hard during the warm-ups. My Jordan agent, he was like, you looked a little too loose. I couldn't stop smiling because I was like, look where I am. And you guys took the stress off of my shoulders and allowed me to play so free. I was asked. I was asked for like 30 minutes of that game. I hit one bucket and y'all erupted. And I thought I had 40 points. So this does not happen with every single person who is here. One more time for your WNBA Finals MVP, Gabby Williams. Let's get everybody together here. Let's grab that trophy.