One day. One whole day.That’s how long Gabby Williams had to wait, keep her massive news hidden. She knew that would be hard immediately. Williams got the news — that she would be a starter for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game — on a call from WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Williams turned her widened eyes to Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who reminded Williams of the plan.“I looked at Ohemaa,” Williams recalled in a phone interview Wednesday, “and she was like, ‘You can’t say anything until tomorrow.’ I was like, ‘No, you have to let me tell the team.’ I can’t celebrate this on my own because I don’t feel like it’s mine.”Watch This: Kayla Thornton nets 4-point play in Valkyries' win over LibertyWilliams, midway through a career-best season, becomes the two-year-old Valkyries’ first-ever All-Star starter, the WNBA announced Thursday. She made her first All-Star appearance as a reserve last season with Seattle. Kayla Thornton, selected as a reserve last season, holds the distinction as Golden State’s first All-Star.But Williams had to remain quiet. Because the Valkyries’ plan was to surprise the team Wednesday. And in their post-practice circle, coach Natalie Nakase delivered the news.Williams immediately doubled over, finally relieved of the weight of her big news. She fought back tears as her teammates mobbed her on the court of the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland. She disappeared in the huddle of cheers. Right knee wrapped. Eyes closed. Heart full.“I was a little embarrassed,” Williams said with a laugh. “I was holding them back because I didn’t want to cry in front of everyone. But I just smiled and laughed and danced with everyone.”Valkyries teammates surrounded Gabby Williams in celebration after hearing the news that she’d been named a WNBA All-Star starter. (Courtesy of the Golden State Valkyries)This was validation. Williams was brought in to elevate the franchise, which surprised many by making the playoffs in its inaugural campaign last season. Golden State added one of the WNBA’s premier defenders and most versatile players. Her leadership, selflessness and competitiveness fit in with the culture being crafted in the Bay.It didn’t take long to learn the Valkyries got even more than expected in Williams. In her previous seven seasons in the WNBA, three with Chicago and four with Seattle, Williams didn’t have a featured role.With Golden State, her role has expanded, and Williams has elevated her game. The Valkyries have gone from a surprising upstart to looking like a serious threat. They currently own the WNBA’s third-best record at 13-7.At this point in the schedule last season, the Valkyries were 10-10.Williams’ defensive reputation has already been established. Her offensive growth this season as a primary creator has been an unveiling. She’s become one of the league’s premier two-way players.Williams is averaging 15.8 points, best on the team and well above the career-high 11.6 points she averaged last season. Her 3-point shot has improved dramatically. She’s at 35.2 percent on just over five attempts per game. She shot 32.3 percent in her best season before this one.Perhaps most important, Williams has been clutch for Golden State. Her shot creation, her ability to produce in the moment, has positioned her as the Valkyries’ go-to option. She ranks seventh in the W with 31 clutch points this season on 57.1 percent shooting.“I didn’t come to the Valkyries to be an All-Star,” Williams said. “Those things are just the product of everything that we do every day. I have the best teammates. I have a staff that pours into me. I come to work with a smile on my face every day.“My teammates make me look great on the court. I don’t take this as, ‘Oh yeah, I’m just playing great.’ I take it as everything we’re doing, we’re going in the right direction as a team.”This season has been about taking the next step and steadily developing into a contender. Golden State went 13-9 down the stretch last season to make the playoffs. They lost in the first round to Minnesota, losing the first two games in the best-of-three series.Owner Joe Lacob has decreed a championship within five years. In the franchise’s second season, they’ve leveled up. Their defense is one of the best in the league. Their chemistry and depth is evident on both ends of the floor. And Williams has been a catalyst for the progression.She was Golden State’s big offseason acquisition. They wanted the All-Defensive player who’d grown into a productive starter. Williams wanted to show she had even more to her game.Validation came Tuesday, when she learned she’ll be among the league’s best in Chicago. Then again Wednesday, when she got to celebrate with the teammates who happily prop her up as their star.“I felt this in my core,” Williams said. “I’m an emotional person. So feeling love like that, I feel whole.”Jul 2, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms