SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Valkyries are the best team in the WNBA. They proved that by going out and winning their first-ever championship.
The Valkyries captured their first WNBA title in their second season after defeating the Atlanta Dream, 68-63, in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, Oct. 31.
They finished the 2026 season with a 32-12 record and claimed the No. 2 seed in the league with the top defense in the WNBA. The Valkyries had the best defensive rating in the league (99.3) and allowed a league-low 75.4 points per game.
"I just have to say we have an incredible team. You guys are incredible. What you did was unbelievable, unbelievable determination," Valkyries owner Joe Lacob said to his team during a postgame interview as they
celebrated their first title.
"Natalie Nakase, Ohemaa Nyanin, and Jess Smith, those three women made this happen. They deserve all the credit in the world. But finally, but finally, who needs to be thanked the most is all of you, Ballhalla."
BUY: Valkyries championship page
With homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs, the Valkyries knocked off the Dallas Wings in the first round and swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals before winning the title. Now, they start to figure out what steps they need to take in order to repeat in 2027.
First, it's addressing their core: who will return and who has an expiring contract. Then, it's addressing areas that could help make Golden State a better team including seeking potential free agents.
Here's what the Valkyries need to focus on in the upcoming offseason:
Who will return for Golden State next season?
The Valkyries have some contracts coming off the books after their championship season and will need to make decisions on who will stay with the organization. Golden State has $3,640,072 in cap space, according to Spotrac.
Players with expiring deals in 2026 include: Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kaitlyn Chen, Laeticia Amihere and Aminata Gueye.
Hayes, 37, won her first WNBA championship. She was so vital to the team's success she was moved to the starting lineup during the Finals. However, it's fair to wonder if Hayes will consider retirement. She hasn't indicated her plans.
"Words can’t describe this, man," Hayes said after being crowned champion. "Ballhalla showed up, showed out as usual. I got to do it with a lot of people that I love the most. This team is amazing, like top to bottom. I got to do it in front of my family. Shout out to them. This is crazy. This is great."
Thornton is another veteran Golden State has to decide whether or not to bring back. Thornton, 34, was a reliable piece for the Valkyries, playing all 44 games. She shined in her role as three-and-D type of player who locked her opponents and hit the 3-pointer at a 34% clip, making 1.5 per game.
Zandalasini is 30. Amihere is 25. Chen and Gueye are both 24.
Valkyries existing roster
Player contracts that continue through the next season include Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Janelle Salaün, Illiana Rupert, Juste Jocyte and Kiah Stokes.
Salaün was named the 2026 Sixth Player of the Year, but saw her playing time diminished in the postseason.
There were short spurts when Jocyte, a rookie, saw the floor and in those small stints, she shot the ball at a 37% rate, including 42% from deep. She appeared in 16 games, playing eight minutes per game and showed flashes that she could be a sharp shooter and playmaker in the future.
Rupert missed the entire 2026 season after she her pregnancy in May 2026. Rupert appeared in 21 games, started 11, for the Valkyries in 2025. She averaged 9.3 points and showed she could be a stretch big, connecting on 44% of her 3-point attempts. Her return will add a different look to Golden State, giving them more size and an interior presence, defensively.
Which free agents will Valkyries target?
The Valkyries are the champions. Winning a title attracts stars and there are some big free agent names this offseason. Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Mitchell, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Kennedy Burke and Temi Fagbenle could all be looking for new homes.
Collier, 30, is coming off a season where she averaged 16.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 blocks and 0.9 steals in 16 games played. Collier missed time coming back from a Grade 2 tear of three ligaments in her left ankle. A healthy Collier would impact any team for the better.
Mitchell, 30, proved to be one of the top scorers in the league during the 2026 season. She led all scorers in total points, eclipsing the 1,000-point mark with 1,086. Mitchell averaged 24.7 points per game, which was second in the league in scoring.
Plum, 32, appeared in 17 games in 2026, but was effective on the floor with 21.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists. She also averaged a steal per game. The Valkyries had a chance to pursue Plum during the season ahead of the Aug. 2 trade deadline, but decided against it, not wanting to disrupt their core's chemistry. The decision was solidified with a championship but they could revisit the idea.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Valkyries have shocked the world. What's next for the 2026 WNBA champs?
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