See what Michael Jordan told Gabby Williams after her WNBA Finals-clinching performance

Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant on Nov 3, 2026

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Gabby Williams‘ phone was blowing up with congratulatory text messages after the former UConn women’s basketball star led the Golden State Valkyries to the WNBA title on Saturday night.

But one felt especially meaningful: From Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

The former Husky told ESPN about the text, which read: “Stay hungry.”

Williams responded: “I’ve never been hungrier.”

The 30-year-old forward scored a whopping 28 second-half points to lead the Valkyries past the Dream, 68-63 in Game 7 on Saturday, their first title in just two years of existence. She did so while wearing Air Jordan 41s — she is a Jordan Brand athlete and signed an endorsement deal with the company in 2023.

Her Game 7 performance capped off a tremendous postseason run in which Williams averaged 21 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.2 steals as the Valkyries beat Dallas, Las Vegas and Atlanta to capture the title. Williams was named Finals MVP.

“We’ve talked about it all season: We have Gabby Williams, and you don’t,” Valkyries guard and fellow former Husky Tiffany Hayes told reporters Monday, in a nod to what Geno Auriemma used to say about Diana Taurasi. “It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen. … She took it upon herself to make sure we weren’t going to lose that game.”

It was Williams’ first title in eight seasons in the WNBA, and Hayes’ first in 14 seasons.