Williams took over. Stokes kept the possession alive.

Gabby Williams scored 28 of her 30 points after halftime Saturday. That is the number that will introduce Golden State’s first WNBA championship, sealed with a 68-63 win over Atlanta in Game 7. Another sequence deserves to stay beside it.

With the Valkyries leading 62-57 late in the fourth quarter, Kiah Stokes collected two offensive rebounds on the same possession. She tipped in the second. Atlanta had defended a shot and still had to defend again, while precious seconds came off the clock.

Williams, the Finals MVP, supplied the scoring that changed the game. Stokes finished with 13 rebounds and two blocks. Veronica Burton’s late free throws helped close it. Golden State won a championship in its second season through a remarkable individual half and the extra possessions that gave it room to hold on.

​Read the championship report.

The other first title this week

Milwaukee finished the job Wednesday. The Brewers beat Tampa Bay 4-1 in Game 5 to win the World Series four games to one. Jacob Misiorowski supplied 17 scoreless outs; Cooper Pratt drove in two runs. A 103-win regular season became an 11-2 postseason. How the Brewers closed their first championship.

The celebration also became a collection. Friday’s Street edition examined the Brewers’ championship shoe and card set, including the fulfillment dates a buyer needs to read, alongside PSA’s return of Value grading. Read The Street.

Three more reads

USC made its possessions count. The Trojans beat No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 on Saturday. Our report examines why the Buckeyes’ longer possessions did not produce the more valuable finishes. Read the game report.

Canelo’s counters answered the pressure. Alvarez regained the WBC super-middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Christian Mbilli. The exchanges that shaped the fight. In Las Vegas, Tom Nolan stopped Renato Moicano after a disputed restart; our UFC report also covers Jacobe Smith’s decision over Randy Brown.

Buster Douglas’s story continues in Columbus. Our Wednesday Second Act feature follows the connection between the recreation system where Douglas learned to box and the coaching role it now lists for him. The community gym belongs in the story, too.

For a longer argument, Monday’s Wayne Gretzky opinion compares him with the scoring runner-up in the same seasons. The distance between them makes the career totals easier to understand.

Sunday’s guide

The clocks changed overnight. All times below are Eastern Standard Time.

• 1 p.m.: Raiders at Jets on FOX; Ravens at Bills on CBS. The Jets placed T’Vondre Sweat on injured reserve Saturday. Buffalo added defensive back Te’Cory Couch to its active roster. Check the clubs’ game-day availability lists before kickoff.
• 5 p.m.: Brooklyn visits Indiana. Gotham hosts Utah on ESPN at Sports Illustrated Stadium. A win or draw gives Gotham its first NWSL Shield, the regular-season title. If Gotham loses, San Diego must also fail to win for Gotham to finish first. Gotham’s official match preview.
• 6 p.m.: Edmonton visits the Rangers. Buffalo completed its Saturday assignment with a 3-2 win at Los Angeles; Tage Thompson scored twice, including the deciding power-play goal.
• 8:30 p.m.: Gold Glove winners are announced on ESPN. MLB’s awards calendar.

Also Wednesday: WWE lists CM Punk challenging NXT champion Grayson Waller on November 4, following Waller’s successful defense against Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc.

Next week’s desk plan includes Monday opinion, Joba Chamberlain as Wednesday’s planned Second Act subject, and Friday’s Street edition. The Mets dossier is in research and is not yet published.

One question for you: Which mattered most in the two championship clinchers: the star’s performance, or the teammates who protected the lead around it?

Find the latest reporting at Stadium & Street and our channels in the official profile directory.