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Sophie Cunningham Praises Gabby Williams Following WNBA Finals MVP Win
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- Sophie Cunningham Praises Gabby Williams Following WNBA Finals MVP Win
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has delivered a powerful message about Gabby Williams following the WNBA's decision to name the Golden State Valkyries star the Finals Most Valuable Player.
Williams earned the MVP honor after a stellar Game 7 performance on Saturday. Her 30-point effort powered the Valkyries to a 68-63 series-clinching victory over the Atlanta Dream. She scored 28 of those points in the second half.
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The 5-foot-11 forward led Golden State throughout the seven-game series. She averaged 19.6 points , 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals per contest.
On Monday's episode of her "No Hesitation" podcast, Cunningham gave Williams her flowers.
"I just want to give her a huge shoutout because she is a phenomenal player, and I think that was on display the whole season, but specifically in this last game," the Fever star said. "It's deserved."
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"But I think something that really sticks out to me, as somebody who's played against her and been in the league pretty much the same amount of time as she has, is that everyone loves her as a teammate."
Cunningham then highlighted Williams' humble leadership and willingness to put her teammates ahead of herself.
"She leads with such grace and humility," the 30-year-old said. "She lets her game do the talking, and she keeps the main thing the main thing. It's like, it's not her night, or if it's someone else's night, she makes sure to feed them. She's a great, great leader."
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"I just love that this is how she ended her season because it's fun for anyone who's a great player to end it like that," she continued. "But for someone who has such humility and leads her team with such passion and cares about them more than herself, I just think it's a phenomenal example for a lot of people to aspire to be like."
The MVP recognition was another major accomplishment for Williams. The 30-year-old forward is a two-time WNBA All-Star and three-time All-Defensive selection.
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The championship marked the first title in Valkyries franchise history. Golden State achieved the milestone in just its second season in the WNBA. This was Williams' first year with the Valkyries after joining the team as a free agent ahead of the season.
Meanwhile, Cunningham has turned her attention to off-court activities since Indiana's season ended on Oct. 1. The Fever lost to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs. It was the second time in three seasons that the Fever were knocked out in the opening round.
Cunningham's contract with Indiana is set to expire in the offseason. She could return to the Fever for the 2027 season or explore opportunities elsewhere in free agency.
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Net Worths: Caitlin Clark | Angel Reese | Sophie Cunningham
Related: Sophie Cunningham Responds to Criticism Against Angel Reese After WNBA Finals
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
