Gabby Williams Criticizes Media Treatment Amidst Valkyries' WNBA Finals Run
Despite leading her team to success, the veteran forward expresses a long-standing disconnect with media recognition.
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams has voiced her frustration with media coverage throughout her career, stating that she has never felt respected by the press, even as her team reaches the WNBA Finals. Williams, a key player in the Valkyries' rapid ascent to the championship series in only their second year of existence, expressed her indifference to current media praise.
"The media’s never respected me. I’ve never expected them to. So that’s always been in the back of my head," Williams told reporters. "Not in the back of my head, but I’ve never paid any mind to it. So, if media’s praising me now, I don’t care."
Williams joined the Valkyries as a free agent in April, having spent her first eight professional seasons with the Chicago Sky and Seattle Storm. This season, she has been instrumental in the team's success, averaging a career-best 14.4 points per game during the regular season and finishing as the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. In the playoffs, her scoring has increased to 22.7 points per game, including a dominant performance in the semifinals sweep against the Las Vegas Aces.
Despite the team's on-court achievements, Williams highlighted the personal connections and support from fellow players as more meaningful. She mentioned receiving outreach from respected WNBA figures such as Jewell Loyd, Paige Bueckers, Ally Clark, and Sue Bird, who have witnessed her career journey.
"What has touched me the most has been, like, I’m hugging [Aces star] Jewell [Lloyd] after the game and we beat them, and she’s telling me ‘this is your moment now,'" Williams said. "Paige [Bueckers of Dallas] reached out to me, AC [Ally Clark of Dallas] reached out to me. Sue Bird. All these players who have seen closely what I have gone through my entire career, and who have reached out to me in support. That’s really touched me."
Williams was originally selected as the fourth overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Sky and earned her first All-Star selection last season with the Storm.