NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
After a busy weekend in Chicago, Williams hosted an event at Pete’s Coffee on Monday to meet with fans and sign merch. We were told fans waited outside as early as 6:30 am!
The line wrapped around the block and finished in front of the coffee shop. The street was covered in Valkyries violet. Everyone was smiling ear-to-ear, anticipating their moment with Williams. It’s no secret that fans adore Williams, not only as a player but as a person.
“She is unapologetically herself, and that is what drew me to her, even when she was on the Seattle Storm,” Angelina Zamattia said. “But now that she’s on the Valkyries, it just means too much to me, and just watching her play every night, it’s just the best.”
Fans were giddy when they walked away from the singing table, smiling amongst their friends. Some walked away with trembling hands as a reaction to meeting Williams. It was truly an event for the fans to share their adoration with Williams and give her a one-on-one Bay Area greeting.
One fan shared a story that felt too good to be true, almost as if she manifested Williams joining Golden State.
“I was watching the Seattle game, and I saw her play so hard; she had eight steals.” Carrie Landgraf said. “I said to myself – actually, I wrote it down,” (she proceeded to show me the slip of paper). ‘I wish she was on our team.’ I didn’t even know her, but I liked the way she played. I saw the alert say ‘Gabby Williams signs three-year contract,’ and I thought, ‘ My wish came true!”
A few other names fans have given her: the Bay Area princess, Valkyries royalty, and of course the team superstar.
Williams Joins Ballhalla
Valkyries fans across the Bay Area were thrilled when Golden State signed Williams in the offseason. The sophomore team added a defensive asset who could shoot the ball well and help be a leader. They added someone who wanted to be a part of a winning culture – something Golden State has declared from day one.
Fast forward to the All-Star selections Williams is named an All-Star starter for the first time in her career. The Valkyries hold the second-place spot in the WNBA standings and are currently the best defensive team in the league.
Through the first half of the season, Williams has shared her newfound joy on multiple occasions.
After a victory in May, she said, “I’ve never had so much fun in a basketball game before.” She has talked about the coaching staff and how Natalie Nakase is constantly challenging her. She’s repeatedly shared how selfless the team is, and how everyone plays for each other, “as cheesy as that sounds.” The list goes on.
One thing is certain – through the first 27 games, the Gabby Williams Affect has proven to be successful both on and off the court. Williams leads the team with 14.8 PPG, and is the main scorer heading into the second half of the season. When Golden State needs a bucket or a turnover, Williams has been the answer.
