SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Gabby Williams hopped off a double-decker bus and began dancing through the streets, blowing a whistle to the beat and slapping high-fives with fans all while keeping her WNBA Finals MVP trophy safely tucked in her left arm.
Then she called for teammate Kiah Stokes to join her and they popped champagne and enjoyed it among the first group in the Valkyries' victory parade on a picture-perfect Wednesday afternoon along San Francisco's waterfront.
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Golden State Valkyries Kaila Charles waves out to fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Kiah Stokes, left, and Gabby Williams spray champagne during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Veronica Burton greets fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Gabby Williams reacts with fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
“I love this,!” Stokes said, before joining in with the crowd chanting “MVP!” for Williams.
The Valkyries began their day of celebration at Oakland's Jack London Square neighborhood, not far from the team's downtown practice facility, then took a ferry across the bay to begin the parade from San Francisco's Ferry Building. It concluded near the San Francisco Giants' Oracle Park, and the baseball team's manager, Tony Vitello, was among those supporting the women's team on the route.
It was an important move for the team to honor and include both cities and the franchise's strong support systems from throughout Northern California.
Zaelani Fowler, 3, watched the parade with mom Brittanee and held a “Girl Power” sign with a heart saying “We Love” with each of the players' numbers.
“Making history,” the mother said. “To actually be here physically, it's amazing, and a beautiful thing that she's going to be able to look back at and say, ‘Wow, I was there when the Valkyries made history.' Girl power."
Fans were again encouraged by the team to “dare we say... call in sick?” when Golden State announced the afternoon parade along San Francisco's picturesque, popular bayfront after several thousand skipped out on work and school to attend a watch party on the big screen at Thrive City's plaza area outside Chase Center for Game 6 last Thursday, played at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time.
Avid Valkyries supporter Cynthia Cheak, who had her left leg amputated two years ago, was invited to be part of the parade. A former personal trainer who is always dressed in violet sparkles from head to toe, Cheak said handing out bracelets throughout “Ballhalla” gave her new purpose and improved her mental health. Cheak has gifted some 26,000 wristbands she purchased since July.
“It’s a humbling yet a powerful experience being able to ride in the Valkyries championship parade,” Cheak said. “Knowing that a simple wristband could bring so many people together, showing kindness, support, compassion and accessibility for all! Remembering that anything can happen if you don’t give up and believe in ‘Ballhalla’ and the Valkyries.”
The celebration came after the Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 on Saturday night in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.
Three years ago when Golden State was granted an expansion franchise, owner Joe Lacob guaranteed a championship within five years — and this group led by coach Natalie Nakase delivered an improbable title in Year 2 after becoming the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year in 2025.
The Valkyries sensed how special this could be from the start and they played well together from Day 1.
“I believed it early, and we continued to get better,” point guard Veronica Burton said. “And I think that's when it was like, ‘OK, this is real, we’re going to do this,' and it happened.”
Williams heard from Michael Jordan among the many congratulations she received, and the star guard and her teammates also were honored on the court at Chase Center during the Golden State Warriors' game Sunday night.
On another double-decker bus, 14-year veteran Tiffany Hayes fittingly held the championship trophy, the 37-year-old guard having captured her first WNBA title at last after coming out of retirement two years ago to help the Valkyries win.
Kaitlyn Chen and Veronica Burton also climbed off a bus and made their way across The Embarcadero to greet fans, honoring those from “Ballhalla” who have meant so much to this bunch and the winning journey in just two years.
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries Kaila Charles waves out to fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Kiah Stokes, left, and Gabby Williams spray champagne during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Veronica Burton greets fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Golden State Valkyries Gabby Williams reacts with fans during a parade to celebrate the WNBA basketball team's championship on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Justine Willard)
Real Madrid produced another late comeback in the Champions League as Federico Valverde struck in stoppage time to seal a 3-2 win over AEK Athens on Wednesday.
Liverpool, however, fell to a surprise 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce on a dramatic night of action, while Manchester City battled to victory over RB Leipzig by the same score after twice blowing leads, and Como beat Lens 9-1.
Last season's runner-up Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1.
Madrid joined back-to-back defending champion Paris Saint-Germain as the only other team to have a 100% winning record after four games played in this season's competition. But that perfect start was put under serious threat in Greece.
The record 15-time European champion twice went behind at Allwyn Arena and needed Valverde's long-range strike in the 92nd minute to seal victory.
"Of course, I prefer to win more comfortably, but these games in the final minutes — only we can win them,” Madrid coach Mourinho told broadcaster Movistar.
Madrid also needed a late rally to beat Roma 4-3 last month, scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes, including a 90th minute winner from Antonio Rudiger.
AEK led through Aboubakary Koita in the first half before Jude Bellingham leveled with a back heel.
Stavros Pilios put the home team 2-1 ahead in the 75th, but Kylian Mbappé equalized three minutes later.
Mbappé then hit the bar before Valverde's dramatic winner.
“The players have courage. I’m very lucky to have players of this quality. Very lucky,” Mourinho said.
Madrid is second in the standings, behind PSG on goal difference.
Liverpool twice blew the lead against Fenerbahce before losing for the first time in this season's Champions League.
Trey Nyoni and Alexander Isak gave the Merseyside club the lead in each half, with former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood and Archie Brown leveling for Fenerbahce on each occasion.
Vedat Muriqi struck the winner in the 89th as Liverpool fell to back-to-back losses in all competitions following defeat to Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
“The main reason I can find for why we lost this game is we conceded from three set pieces,” Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola said. “We knew it was one of the strengths of Fenerbahce. We concede from a free-kick, a corner and even from the long throw at the end. It’s frustration because it’s a difficult place to come here and play.”
Victory will have been particularly sweet for Fenerbahce interim coach, former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt.
It was Fenebahce's first win in the Champions League since 2008.
Erling Haaland came back to haunt Leipzig and drag City over the line after being pushed to the limit at Red Bull Arena.
The Norway striker has scored 13 goals against the German club from his time at Borussia Dortmund and City. He came up with the winner in the 78th after City twice failed to hold onto the lead.
Haaland, who scored five goals in City’s 7-0 rout of Leipzig in 2023, slid in to turn home Elliot Anderson’s cross to seal victory.
City led through an own goal from Castello Lukeba in the first half but conceded four minutes into the second half when Ridle Baku equalized.
Enzo Fernandez headed City back in front and Antonio Nusa leveled again soon after, leaving to Haaland to hit his 14th goal of the season.
First-half goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres put Arsenal on course for victory at Slavia Prague and despite conceding in the 90th, the Premier League champion sealed a 2-1 win.
Tasos Douvikas scored a hat trick and Cesc Fabregas’ Como routed Lens 9-1 to make it three victories in four matches of its debut season in the competition.
Douvikas has scored in all four of Como’s matches.
Nico Paz also found the net and then instead of celebrating went and grabbed a T-shirt featuring an image of Jesús de Miguel, the Tenerife forward who died following an on-field collision with the opposing team’s goalkeeper.
Paz spent time in Tenerife’s youth system from 2014-16.
Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri was in crisis following a 4-1 loss at Porto.
Gabriel Veiga, Jakub Kiwior and Samu Aghehowa scored in the second half for the hosts after Scott McTominay’s momentary equalizer.
It was Napoli’s third loss in four matches of the league phase; and the Partenopei are struggling in Serie A, too — having been beat 2-0 at Juventus on Sunday.
Porto has a perfect 10 wins in 10 matches to lead the Portuguese league but had lost its opening three matches in the Champions League.
Konstantinos Karetsas’ first goal for Borussia Dortmund gave the 1997 champion a 2-1 win over Real Betis.
The Greek winger entered for the injured Serhou Guirassy with 10 minutes of the first half remaining and was involved in the buildup after the break when Fábio Silva opened the scoring off the rebound from Álvaro Vallés’ save of Jobe Bellingham’s initial effort.
Aitor Ruibal equalized in the 67th to set off wild celebrations among the many visiting supporters.
Vallés pulled off a point-blank save to deny Bellingham an immediate response before he was finally beaten by Karetsas for what proved the winner in the 72nd.
It gave Dortmund three wins from four games.
Portuguese winger Carlos Forbs scored for the second straight Champions League game to give Club Brugge a 2-1 win at PSV Eindhoven.
Norwegian club Viking earned its first victory in the Champions League proper by beating Azerbaijani club Sabah 4-1.
In the second-tier Europa League, Rennes drew 0-0 with Olympiakos.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
See AP’s full soccer coverage here
Como's head coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Lens and Como in Lens, France, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Manchester City's Erling Haaland, center, celebrates after scoring this side third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between RB Leibzig and Manchester City in Leipzig, Germany, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Fenerbahce's Kojo Peprah Oppong celebrates at the end of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Fenerbahce's Archie Brown, center, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Liverpool's Alexander Isak celebrates after scoring his side's second goalduring the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Liverpool in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
AEK Athens' Stavros Pilios celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe has a shot blocked during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Real Madrid players celebrate with Federico Valverde after he scored his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between AEK Athens and Real Madrid in Athens, Greece, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
Manchester City's manager Enzo Maresca speakes during a team's press conference in Leipzig, Germany, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026, ahead of the Champions League soccer match against RB Leipzig. (Robert Michael/dpa via AP)
Liverpool's manager Andoni Iraola smiles before the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Arsenal in Liverpool, England, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Racing de Santander and Real Madrid in Santander, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Real Madrid's head coach Jose Mourinho watches during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Racing de Santander and Real Madrid in Santander, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
