What happened: Former UConn teammates Tiffany Hayes, Gabby Williams, Kaitlyn Chen, and Kiah Stokes celebrated with the championship trophy after guiding the Golden State Valkyries to the 2026 WNBA title. The milestone caps a postseason surge by the UConn quartet that fueled the Valkyries' Finals run.

Why it matters: The victory earns Williams and Stokes a WNBA championship to pair with their collegiate national titles at UConn. Golden State's rapid championship run marks one of the fastest title ascents by an expansion franchise in modern professional basketball.

What to watch: The Valkyries turn toward the offseason roster cycle as they prepare to defend their title in 2027.