Valkyries star Gabby Williams counts possessions, keeps track of everything to lead late in games

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Late in games, Gabby Williams starts counting. She constantly computes math in her head, all while handling the pressure of being the one to regularly take big shots for the Golden State Valkyries.

Better Williams than coach Natalie Nakase, that's for sure.

“What’s her obsession with math?” Nakase inquired when told about Williams' process.

“I don’t do math. I do more like coverages and schemes and seeing people’s energy and more connectivity with our group. That’s all Gabby. I’m not that smart. I’m not doing math out there. I didn’t do math since the UCLA days.”

Whatever it is that Williams does, it's working well during her first playoff run with the Valkyries after coming to the Bay Area for just this: a chance at a championship. Golden State leads the Atlanta Dream 1-0 in their best-of-seven WNBA Finals.

Even members of Golden State's athletic training staff have noticed Williams making her mental notes down the stretch.

The veteran guard scored 26 points in a 68-64 Game 1 win Saturday, missing her initial four shots before scoring 16 of her 26 points in the second quarter. She was the only Valkyries player in double figures as Golden State shot 32.1% and 7 of 33 from 3-point range.

“Yeah, same thing, doing math,” Williams explained of her mindset. "One of our trainers, she was like, ‘In the fourth quarter, you always do this thing and I know you’re going to start taking over, you look at the clock.’ And I’m like: ‘Yeah, I’m counting. I’m counting possessions, I’m counting points, what do we need now, what’s the most timely time to go.’

“I think it’s just like the best way to kind of take the pressure off things, too, is just to break them down possession by possession.”

The Dream had been outstanding down the stretch during their first two series, both sweeps, to reach the franchise's fourth finals. Yet Atlanta is still yet to win a finals game.

Coach Karl Smesko can't wait for his team to find a way to bounce back Monday night. Atlanta shot 2 for 19 in the fourth quarter.

“I just think we need to maintain how we want to play for a whole four quarters. We had a couple dry spells where we just weren’t working together as well as you need to against this defense. They are not just going to give you easy shots,” he said. “So we are going to need to work together to create these advantages.”

Execution is especially challenging in the hostile environment that is Golden State's deafening “Ballhalla” sellout home crowd — with rally towels waving and thunder sticks cracking all game long.

While Smesko was pleased with how the Dream handled the noise, he will challenge his players to communicate even better next time out.

“I thought the environment was great. I thought the crowd was great. They were loud. They were cheering at all the right times,” Smesko said. “But I think when we had a breakdown, it was something that we worked on and we just would have a miscommunication or something like that. ... When we have an opportunity to finish a game, we’ve just got to do it.”

Nakase challenged her team's loyal, violet-loving fans once more to bring all their energy again Monday.

“Great job but hey, level up, right? Like we’ve got to go Game 2, it has to be better. We’re going to ask more from our players. So I’d say, check for Game 1,” she said. “Let’s get a better Game 2. Rest and recover, Ballhalla. Careful what you drink tonight.”

See AP’s full WNBA coverage here

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) and guard Rhyne Howard react toward officials during the first half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen, left, celebrates with forward Laeticia Amihere (3) and guard-forward Kaila Charles as Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) walks toward the bench during the second half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) shoots against Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) during the first half of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams celebrates after Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams celebrates after Game 1 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

JERUSALEM (AP) — The photographer with The Washington Post who was attacked by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank so badly that several vertebrae were broken said Sunday she was increasingly angry that Israel’s military seems to protect settlers more than the Palestinians they threaten.

The attack on Heidi Levine and Palestinians during the sensitive olive harvest — followed a day later by an attack on European diplomats in a Christian village — again highlights the rampant settler violence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed on a small number of troublemakers.

Levine, from her hospital bed, has told The Associated Press she was “shocked and insulted” that Netanyahu referred to the attack on her and others as “alleged,” adding that the prime minister “had all the evidence on the table.”

In contrast, she described the sharp condemnation of settler violence expressed to her in a call from Israel’s president, and in a letter signed by several of the country’s top former security and intelligence officials. All expressed shame over the attack.

Netanyahu, two weeks out from close elections that could end his time in power, is again confronted with an issue that has drawn growing international condemnation. Much of the world considers the settlements in the West Bank illegal, and yet construction and expansion continue.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been attacked and a few have been killed this olive harvest alone, which started in late September, rights groups have said. Olive trees, a central part of history and heritage for Palestinians, have been destroyed.

Levine blamed “Jewish terrorists” for Friday's attack and added: “I’ve been covering this region for over 40 years, and I have never seen this country in such a state as it is today.”

Levine was recovering Sunday from injuries that included what appeared to be stab wounds in her buttocks, which required stitches. There was nothing new from police on the case, she said.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, whose recent comments have condemned settler attacks on U.S. citizens but not on Palestinians overall, called the attack on Levine a “despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards” and said they should spend years in prison.

Separately, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Levine, and Yair Golan, a former general and leader of the opposition Democrats party, visited. Netanyahu’s main rival in the elections, Gadi Eisenkot, said on X that “a handful of criminals is burning up the last shreds of legitimacy left to the state of Israel.”

Herzog was “actually very sweet,” Levine said Sunday. “Down to earth, calling them thugs, inviting me for a personal hug. He’s ashamed for what happened: ‘These people are a stain on Israeli society.’”

She said she has not heard from Netanyahu. His outgoing government is dominated by West Bank settlers and their supporters.

Levine did receive, however, a letter signed by over a dozen former Israeli security, intelligence and other officials, including former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, former Mossad director Tamir Pardo and former Shin Bet director Ami Ayalon.

“We are deeply ashamed that Jewish terrorists in the West Bank continue to inflict suffering on innocent Palestinians, assault those who come to their defense, and target those who document and expose their despicable conduct,” said the letter, shared with the AP.

“Their brutality brings disgrace upon Israel and the Jewish people. Such acts undermine Israel’s security, its regional and international standing, and the moral fabric of our society. They represent a betrayal of everything we have devoted our lives to defending.”

The letter noted that “alas, with encouragement from the highest echelons of government,” only a fundamental change in policy can end the “disgraceful phenomenon.”

Levine told the AP that “I never wanted the story to be about me but about the people I’ve tried to document” over decades. She said she has sought to show how the violence is “increasing, becoming more and more dangerous.”

She has said the attackers — armed with bottles and slingshots — “were kicking me for like 10 minutes and I was trying to hold on to my cameras and my bag.” Her helmet and protective vest, which was marked “PRESS,” likely saved her from more serious injuries.

But she and others have openly wondered who will protect Palestinians. Rights groups have said few settlers are ever punished for the attacks that have surged in recent years.

“It’s about time you do something, Mr. Prime Minister,” Levine said.

As for herself, she plans to return to work.

“I’ve invested decades of blood, sweat and tears into this,” she said. “They cracked my bones, they haven’t cracked my spirit.”

Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

This version corrects to say the attack was Friday.

Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine receives treatment at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, after being injured in an attack by Israeli settlers while covering clashes that erupted during the Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank village of Abu Falah on Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine receives treatment at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, after being injured in an attack by Israeli settlers while covering clashes that erupted during the Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank village of Abu Falah on Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)