WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams on Game 7, Trans Athletes, and Her Cat, Halle Berry

But at the time, Williams, the 30-year-old French-American wing, hadn’t yet won a WNBA Championship, much less been named Finals MVP. And, truth be told, no one expected this from the Valkyries, an expansion franchise in only its second year of existence, and one without a single All-WNBA selection on its roster. After defeating the Atlanta Dream in a winner-takes-all Game 7 (the first in WNBA history) this past weekend, the Valkyries brought their first ever WNBA Trophy back to the Bay.

And it was largely because of Williams, who lived up to Lacob’s promise by executing the most memorable second-half takeover in WNBA Finals history. Here’s how it went down: With three minutes left in the third, the Valks trailing by six, Williams called for the ball, went between-the-legs, and took a step back jumper from beyond the perimeter. She followed that up moments later with a catch-and-shoot three in Angel Reese’s grill.

The following possession, Williams freed herself up from a double team, then sprinted out past the three-point line for a money ball. Williams’ back-to-back-to-back triples broke Atlanta and gave life to “Ballhalla,” San Francisco’s fortress of 18,064 violet-clad, women’s basketball fanatics. After trailing for most of the game, Golden State snatched the lead and didn’t look back.

Williams finished with 28 points in the second half (a WNBA post-season record) on her way to a game-high 30. When it came time to name the Finals MVP, there was little question about which player on an otherwise balanced roster had been most crucial to the Valkyries’ fairytale fun. Watching Williams, you might not have guessed that, when she’s not hooping, she simply wants to cuddle with her cat and binge-watch anime.

Just before the Valks’ championship parade, GQ got to know this smooth assassin a bit more intimately. Congratulations on your championship. The Valkyries really brought everybody together.

I went back to read a rookie diary entry you wrote in 2018 for ESPN. You might not remember this, but you mentioned getting a new cat. Lo and behold, this cat is now taking photos next to the WNBA trophy.