Queenslander Miela Sowah's golden year has been capped with a history-making WNBA championship.
The 26-year-old sunk the winner in overtime to hand Townsville a WNBL title in March, was an 11th hour call-up to the Opals' FIBA World Cup campaign in September and on Sunday etched her way into the WNBA record books as a member of the Golden State Valkyries team that lifted the championship in just its second season.
The Valkyries, who have transformed women's sport with record crowds, massive following and membership in the Bay Area, came from behind at halftime to beat the Atlanta Dream, 68-63, in the first-ever Game 7.
As a development player, shooting guard Sowah was unable to hit the court throughout the Finals but will forever be part of history.
The Golden State Valkyries are the fastest expansion team in the US to win a title since the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971.
It was the 17th WNBA championship which included an Aussie with Sowah joining an illustrious list alongside Penny Taylor, Lauren Jackson, Erin Phillips, Sami Whitcomb, Belinda Snell, Tully Bevilaqua, Abby Bishop, Alison Lacy, Rachel Jarry, Ezi Magbegor and Cayla George.
The Valkyries team featured a host of former WNBL imports including 2024-25 champion Veronica Burton who achieved the feat with Bendigo, ex-Perth Lynx centre Laeticia Amihere and Southside's Kayla Thornton.
An Australian was destined to win the title with a player on both sides, Opal and reigning WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase playing her role off the bench for the Dream.
Borlase, 22, clocked just over 14 minutes scoring 8 points in the second half along with 2 rebounds and played important minutes throughout the third quarter.