Gabby Williams and the French national team had a chance to dethrone the USA as the World Cup champions. They cruised to the gold medal game, beating Korea, Nigeria, China, and Germany by big margins. Williams ended up leading the tournament in total points scored and was named Best Defensive Player, but it was not enough. Team USA took the gold medal in a 97-79 win.
After the game, Williams said in the postgame press conference, “We have a lot to be proud of, but I think we’re going to remember how this feels and just use this for motivation.”
The frustration and disappointment were impossible to miss. There’s a very good chance that Williams won’t just use this loss as motivation for the next international competition and another shot at a gold medal but also for the WNBA playoffs, which are right around the corner. After missing out on a gold medal, Williams certainly won’t want to endure an early playoff exit, too, and that could cause trouble for the rest of the league.
Williams and the Golden State Valkyries could make serious noise in the playoffs
The Valkyries will enter the final four games of the regular season as the two-seed behind the 31-9 Minnesota Lynx and with the best defense in the WNBA. They regularly hold great offensive teams to their season-low in points scored and well below their averages. Scoring against them is incredibly difficult. If they’re knocking down their 3-pointers on top of that, the Valkyries are tough to beat and an opponent no one wants to face.
Williams is the head of the snake for them on both ends of the floor. She leads the team in points per game and has been one of the most effective defenders in the WNBA, especially with Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes next to her. If she is playing with extra hunger and aggressiveness, the Valkyries could go pretty far in just their second season—which would bode well for Joe Lacob’s five-year plan for a championship.
The fact that the Las Vegas Aces will have to brave the playoffs without NaLyssa Smith also works in the Valkyries’ favor. It makes one of the top contenders a lot less dangerous, even though A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray are a very effective trio in the playoffs.
Williams and the Valkyries have done enough to establish themselves as a possible contender. The only question is whether their offense will hold up in the playoffs.
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