"This Is for All of the People That Have Been Underrated": Nakase, Lacob and Reese After Game 7

The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 on Oct. 31 to win the WNBA title. Here is what people said afterward.

Natalie Nakase

When Nakase got the microphone on the court, she spoke to the fans. "And this is for all of the people that have been underrated, misunderstood, this is for all of y'all," she said, according to SFGATE. She added a word not fit for print, live on national TV.

She kept it light in the press room. Asked whether the team could repeat, she said, "Girl, I just need to get drunk tonight, so let me get there. I ate this morning. I slept. Let's just enjoy the moment." Asked about switching Gabby Williams onto Naz Hillmon, she said, "Y'all think I know what I'm doing? I just switch things just to switch it up."

Nakase told The Athletic that Lacob's five-year promise drove her. "Joe set the standard," she said. "Whoever takes this job has to win in five years. So I was like, yes, that's going to happen, but even faster. I'm impatient."

Williams, Hayes and Lacob

"We just built a beautiful culture here," Williams told reporters, KQED reported. Tiffany Hayes told the crowd, "This is what happens when you invest in women's sports," according to The Athletic. Lacob credited Nakase, GM Ohemaa Nyanin and president Jess Smith. "I'll give myself credit for hiring them, but other than that, they did it," he said.

Atlanta

"It is tough in the moment, but we'll be back," Dream forward Angel Reese said, according to The Athletic. "I always say, delayed not denied, and this is only Year 3."

More: how the Valkyries built a champion and how fans celebrated.