Natalie Nakase and Golden State Valkyries Win First WNBA Title in Record 534 Days

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 on Saturday to win their first WNBA championship, just 534 days after their first game. The victory makes them the fastest expansion team in major North American professional sports history to win a title, and they did it as 45-1 preseason longshots in only their second season. Coach Natalie Nakase, whose own unconventional path included a walk-on spot at UCLA and a coaching job in Japan's top men's league, built a roster of overlooked players such as a point guard waived by Dallas, a forward waived five times, and a late-blooming All-Star. Nakase's journey taught her how trust and opportunity can unlock potential, and she gave her players the resources and responsibility to become champions. The title validates the Valkyries' approach of empowering underdogs and proves that a team built on resilience can achieve greatness quickly.