Golden State Valkyries guard Gabby Williams is taking her talents to Unrivaled, signing a multiyear deal with the 3-on-3 league that will begin with the 2027 season kicking off in January. The announcement adds another significant chapter to the career of one of the most versatile and decorated players in women’s basketball today.
Williams, who expressed enthusiasm about competing alongside some of the best players in the world and being part of something pushing women’s basketball forward, framed the move as both a competitive and a personal opportunity to keep growing her game at the highest level.
A standout first season with the Valkyries
The 5-foot-11 forward is currently in the midst of her first season with Golden State after joining the team as a free agent this offseason, and she has wasted no time making her presence felt. Williams is leading the Valkyries in scoring, averaging a career-high 16.3 points per game, while ranking second on the team in assists at 2.5 per game. The early returns suggest the move to the Bay Area has been exactly the fresh start she was looking for.
Before arriving in Golden State, Williams spent four seasons with the Seattle Storm, where she established herself as one of the premier defensive players in the WNBA. That reputation was underscored last season when she finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting and recorded 99 steals, the second most in a single season in league history.
An international career that speaks for itself
Williams’ résumé extends well beyond the WNBA. She has enjoyed an exceptional international career, most recently winning back-to-back EuroLeague Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2025 and 2026 while playing for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe. As a French national, she represented France at the Olympic Games in both 2020 and 2024, earning a bronze medal at the first and a silver medal at the second.
The Unrivaled commitment will require some scheduling adjustments. Because the league runs from January through mid-March, Williams will not be available to play for Fenerbahçe during that window. However, the league’s structure does allow some flexibility, and players have previously joined their overseas clubs for a stretch after Unrivaled’s season concludes.
What this means for Unrivaled
Landing Williams is a meaningful signing for Unrivaled as the league continues to build its identity and attract elite talent from across the women’s basketball landscape. Her combination of defensive excellence, offensive improvement and international pedigree makes her one of the more compelling players in the sport, and her presence will add credibility and star power to the league’s 2027 season.
With the WNBA schedule also set to expand to 50 games starting in 2027, the landscape of women’s basketball is shifting rapidly, and players like Williams are increasingly at the center of those changes.
Source: ESPN