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04/12 14:50 CDT All-Star Gabby Williams joins Golden State Valkyries on
multiyear deal in Day 2 of WNBA free agency
All-Star Gabby Williams joins Golden State Valkyries on multiyear deal in Day 2
of WNBA free agency
By DOUG FEINBERG
AP Basketball Writer
All-Star Gabby Williams signed a multiyear deal with Golden State, the
Valkyries announced Sunday.
Williams averaged a career-high 11.6 points and 4.2 assists and led the WNBA in
steals with 2.3 per game for Seattle last season. That effort earned the
29-year-old an All-Star appearance for the first time in her career. She also
was a member of the league's All-Defensive First Team.
"For a player of Gabby's caliber to choose us in just our second year ... means
everything," Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said in a statement. "She
is world-class. One of the best defenders in the world, a WNBA All-Star, and
someone who makes everyone around her better."
The Valkyries had a stellar season in their first year, making the playoffs ---
the first time an expansion team had done that. Williams was drafted fourth by
Chicago in 2018 and traded to Los Angeles in 2021. She didn't play any games
for the Sparks before being traded to Seattle in 2022.
Other moves on Sunday included Sophie Cunningham and Damiris Dantas re-signing
with the Indiana Fever. Cunningham averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 30
games before suffering a season-ending MCL tear in her right knee in August.
Dantas originally signed with the Fever ahead of the 2024 season and has since
played in 58 games for Indiana, averaging 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per game,
and was a part of the 2025 Commissioner's Cup championship team.
The pair join Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull, who announced on Saturday they
were returning to the team. Indiana also added Monique Billings in the first
day of free agency.
The Toronto Tempo added forward Isabelle Harrison, whom Sandy Brondello coached
in New York before making the move to Canada.
Minnesota Lynx The Lynx re-signed five-time All-Star Kayla McBride to a two-year deal at a lower max salary, her agent, Ticha Penicheiro, told The Associated Press. Courtney Williams, a two-time All-Star, also is coming back to the Lynx. Chicago Sky The Sky added guard DiJonai Carrington to their roster as well as officially re-signing Courtney Vandersloot. The Sky acquired Rickea Jackson for Ariel Atkins in a trade with Los Angeles. Connecticut Sun The Sun added guard Kennedy Burke and re-signed forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa to a two-year deal. Burke appeared in 36 games for the Liberty, making nine starts and averaging 8.1 points and 2.4 rebounds. Seattle Storm The Storm re-signed forward Ezi Magbegor, who had 96 blocks last season to go along with 8.0 points and 6.2 rebounds. She shot 49.3% from the field. Seattle also re-signed wing Katie Lou Samuelson, who missed all of last season after tearing her ACL in training camp. ___ AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball |
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