Former Girona Players Lead Golden State Valkyries to WNBA Title

The Golden State Valkyries captured the WNBA championship this past weekend by defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a decisive seventh game, securing the title in their inaugural season with three former Spar Girona players on their roster. diaridegirona.cat reported that the victory carries a distinct connection to Girona through WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams, Laeticia Amihere, and Justė Jocytė, all of whom played for the Catalan club in recent years.

Williams Claims Finals MVP After Performance

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with a 30-point performance in the final game, earning the Finals MVP award and becoming the second European player in history to receive the honor. diaridegirona.cat noted that Williams previously played for Spar Girona during the 2018-19 season after arriving in February 2019 from Italian club Napoli, which folded due to financial difficulties. Under then-head coach Èric Surís, Williams averaged 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists during that domestic league championship run, helping Girona claim its second league title. Williams arrived at age 22 following her WNBA debut with the Chicago Sky. During that season, Williams played five regular-season matches before helping secure a 2-0 quarterfinal series against Araski, a 2-0 semifinal series against Cadí La Seu, and a 2-0 victory against Perfumerías Avenida in the final. Williams also averaged 8 points and 2 rebounds at the Copa de la Reina in Mendizorrotza, where Girona reached the final before losing to Perfumerías Avenida, earning a place among the 3,500 spectators who filled the pavilion in May 2019.

Amihere and Jocytė Complete Championship Runs After Girona Stints

Laeticia Amihere and Justė Jocytė also contributed to the Valkyries’ title-winning campaign following recent stints at Fontajau. diaridegirona.cat reported that Amihere played 11 games for Girona last season after arriving to replace the injured Chloe Bibby, averaging over 10 points and 3 rebounds before departing to prepare for the WNBA season. Amihere appeared in four games during the finals against Atlanta. Jocytė, who appeared in one game during the WNBA finals, spent last season under coach Roberto Íñiguez, helping Girona reach the inaugural EuroLeague Final Six in Zaragoza before earning a spot on the third best team of the EuroLeague and finishing as a Rising Star award finalist. Jocytė earned unanimous respect from fans by choosing to stay in Girona to play in the Lliga Femenina Endesa play-offs, unlike Bibby who left earlier, in a run where the team eventually fell in the semifinals against Valencia Basket.

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