Valkyries Win First WNBA Title Over Dream

Golden State captured the franchise's first championship, while Janelle Salaün drew attention for a courtside gesture during the celebration.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Basketball

Valkyries Win First WNBA Title Over Dream

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream to win the franchise's first WNBA championship. During the celebration, Janelle Salaün flipped off a person courtside, a moment that was shared widely after a fan posted a short clip of it on X.

Why it matters

The title marks the franchise's first league championship and places Golden State among the WNBA's champions. The incident involving Salaün drew attention because fans also booed Commissioner Cathy Engelbert during the trophy presentation.

Salaün set the WNBA single-season reserve record with 509 total points and 93 three-pointers made. Her 39.2% three-point rate this season is the figure most directly tied to her role, though the record for double-digit scoring games (27) is also cited.

The players

Janelle Salaün

Salaün is a Golden State Valkyries guard who was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Cathy Engelbert

Engelbert is the WNBA commissioner who was booed by fans while presenting the championship trophy.

The details

Salaün, who signed as an undrafted free agent on a training camp contract, was standing over Commissioner Cathy Engelbert's right shoulder when fans booed Engelbert during the trophy presentation. Salaün stopped the gesture after realizing she was on national television.

April 2026: Salaün signed a multi-year contract extension with the team.
2025 season: Salaün was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team in her first year.
2026 season: The Valkyries won their first WNBA championship.

Season Trajectory

The championship gives Golden State its first title in franchise history and adds to the league's growing list of champions. The result also reflects a season in which individual performers like Salaün set league records alongside team success.

Salaün's 509 total points set a single-season reserve record, which matters for fantasy rosters tracking bench production. Her 12.7 points per game average this season is a concrete figure for evaluating her role going forward.

The takeaway

Team success and individual milestones can coexist in a single season, as the Valkyries' title and Salaün's records show. Following player-level stats alongside team results gives a fuller picture of a championship roster.