Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün earned the Associated Press Sixth Player of the Year award, while guard Gabby Williams was selected to the AP All-WNBA Second Team on Sunday, September 27, 2026. The prestigious honors were announced ahead of the team’s playoff opener against the Dallas Wings.
A national panel of women’s basketball sportswriters voted on the accolades, which precede the official WNBA league awards.
Record-Breaking Season for Salaün
Salaün put together a historic campaign coming off the bench for the Valkyries. Her 12.7 points per game led all league reserves this season and ranked seventh all-time in WNBA history.
The forward established single-season league records for reserve players by accumulating:
- 509 total points
- 93 three-pointers
- An average of 2.3 three-pointers per game
- 27 double-digit scoring performances
Additionally, Salaün shot 39.2 percent from beyond the arc, which ranked fourth among players attempting at least five perimeter shots per contest.
Gabby Williams Anchors Valkyries Defense
Williams played a crucial role in leading Golden State into playoff contention as a legitimate challenger. She paced the team in scoring with a career-best 14.4 points per game.
Beyond her offensive output, Williams anchored the league’s top defense. Her standout defensive metrics included:
- Ranking second in the WNBA with 24 NET defensive points
- Securing 1.6 steals per game, good for fifth in the league
- Ranking fourth in defensive WAR at 1.4
- Posting a ninth-best defensive win share of .162
Earlier in the year, Williams earned her second career WNBA All-Star selection, making history as Golden State’s first-ever All-Star starter.
The newly-honored duo and the Valkyries began their postseason run on Sunday evening, hosting the Dallas Wings at the Chase Center.
