Valkyries Win First WNBA Title Over Dream
Fans who want to follow the team's next season can watch how Janelle Salaün's record-setting year carries into the future.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball
San Francisco basketball fans watched the Golden State Valkyries win the franchise's first WNBA championship over the Atlanta Dream. The celebration also drew attention when Janelle Salaün flipped off a person courtside, a gesture a fan captured and shared on X.
Why it matters
For Bay Area fans, the title is the first major championship for a team that has been working to build a local following around the Golden State name. The courtside moment and the booing of WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the trophy presentation are the kinds of details that will shape how this win is remembered.
Salaün's scoring rose from 11.3 points per game as a rookie to a career-high 12.7 this season, and she set the WNBA single-season reserve record with 509 total points. She also shot 39.2% from three-point range and ranked eighth in the league in three-pointers made.
The players
Janelle Salaün
A Golden State Valkyries guard and WNBA All-Rookie Team honoree whose scoring and record-setting season helped drive the team's title run.
Golden State Valkyries
The WNBA franchise that won its first league championship over the Atlanta Dream.
Cathy Engelbert
The WNBA Commissioner who was booed by fans while presenting the championship trophy.
The details
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream to claim the franchise's first WNBA title. During the celebration, Salaün flipped the bird while smiling, a moment a fan named Andy Blake recorded and posted as a short clip on X. Salaün stopped the gesture once she realized she was on national television, and fans booed Commissioner Cathy Engelbert as she presented the trophy with Salaün standing nearby.
Timeline
April 2026: Salaün signed a multi-year contract extension with the team.
2025 season: Salaün, an undrafted free agent who signed on a training camp contract, earned All-Rookie Team honors.
2026 season: The Valkyries won their first WNBA championship.
Across the Bay
The Valkyries' first title carries the Golden State name into the WNBA, extending a championship tradition the Warriors built in the NBA during the 2010s. It is the first time a Bay Area franchise in this newer league has claimed a title of its own.
If you follow the Valkyries, expect the championship to bring renewed attention to the team's home games in Golden State. Fans who want to watch Salaün's continued development can track her scoring and shooting numbers as the franchise moves forward.
The takeaway
The title marks a first for the franchise and a new chapter for Bay Area basketball fans. Watch the team's next season and Salaün's contract terms as the Valkyries build on this win.
Further reading
For more on the team's rise, see the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by EssentiallySports.
