Story by
All-Star Gabby Williams makes history with Valkyries signing after saying goodbye to Storm
- Story by
- All-Star Gabby Williams makes history with Valkyries signing after saying goodbye to Storm
All-Star Gabby Williams makes history with Valkyries signing after saying goodbye to Storm appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Not long after saying goodbye to the Seattle Storm , All-Star forward Gabby Williams decided to sign with the Golden State Valkyries . The multi-year contract was first reported by ESPN's Andraya Carter and later officially announced by the Valkyries on Sunday morning.
Advertisement
Carter reported over the weekend that Williams was deciding between the Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx . Williams wound up joining Golden State , with Carter noting she's "the first player with deep Bay Area ties to sign with the organization." Williams grew up nearby in Nevada, traveled to California to play and also has a brother at Cal State East Bay.
Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin released a statement on the signing: "For a player of Gabby's caliber to choose us in just our second year. She is world-class. One of the best defenders in the world, an WNBA All-Star, and someone who makes everyone around her better. Honestly, what excites me most is who she is as a person. Gabby has deep roots in the Bay Area, and she is coming home. The community is going to love her, and I think she is going to love it here."
Gabby Williams' WNBA career
Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Williams spent the last four seasons of her WNBA career with the Storm after starting out with the Chicago Sky in 2018. The UConn product is coming off a season in which she posted career-best marks almost across the board. The 29-year-old averaged 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.3 steals (best in the league) while earning her first WNBA All-Star honors along with making the WNBA All-Defensive First Team.
Advertisement
Williams helped Seattle reach the playoffs each of the last two seasons, though the club lost to the Aces in the first round both times, including a heartbreaking one-point loss in Game 3 last year.
In addition to her exploits in the WNBA, Williams also won a silver medal with France at the 2024 Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 Olympics. She won two national titles at UConn and will now bring her winning experience to the Valkyries, who made the playoffs in their inaugural season. Golden State also just re-signed Most Improved Player winner Veronica Burton .
Related: Why All-Star Gabby Williams is a game-changing signing for Valkyries
Related: Valkyries make 4 intriguing signings after Gabby Williams contract
