The Golden State Valkyries have signed free agent forward Gabby Williams to a three-year, $3.7 million contract, the team announced on April 12, 2026.
Williams, who led the WNBA with 2.2 steals per game in the 2025 season, joins the second-year expansion franchise after earning first-team All-Defensive honors with the Seattle Storm.
The signing was later voted the most impactful offseason acquisition by WNBA general managers in a poll conducted on May 5, 2026.
Homecoming for Bay Area Native
Williams, a Nevada resident with deep ties to Northern California, chose the Valkyries after a direct recruiting call from owner Joe Lacob.
She played youth basketball for the Bay Area Bulldogs and Mission Rec Rebels under coaches Oscar Jimenez and Alfonso Joo.
"It has to go to the Bay," Williams said. "It's just the perfect place."
Her former AAU coach, Alfonso Joo, received a FaceTime call from Williams 20 minutes before the official announcement while coaching a youth game.
"When I got the FaceTime, I had that feeling, and I go to the lobby. I hit answer and there she is smiling," Joo said.
Joo attended the Valkyries' season opener and plans to invite Williams to future youth clinics to inspire local players.
Defensive Anchor and Expanded Role
The UConn product won NCAA championships in 2015 and 2016 before being drafted by the Chicago Sky.
She later tied a Seattle franchise record with eight steals in a single game on June 17, 2025.
Under Valkyries coach Soraya Diase Coffey, Williams has taken on a larger offensive role, averaging 14.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game through May 21, 2026.
An anonymous league official highlighted the tactical significance of the acquisition, noting that opposing teams shoot 3.2 percentage points lower when Williams is on the floor.
"She's one of the best defenders in the league, period," an anonymous NBA general manager told ESPN.
"Her ability to guard multiple positions and generate steals at an elite level doesn't come around often in free agency."
The Valkyries, led by general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, aim to secure a championship within a five-year window by pairing Williams with returning guard Veronica Burton.
