“Where there is a will, there is a way.” The adage serves right and reminds us that the truest potential of a being is within oneself. And those who utilize it to the fullest can never be denied of their fortunes. Today’s story of Gabby Williams is one of making the most out of our  potential.

Born in the USA, Williams will be playing for France in the upcoming Olympics. She has been with the Seattle Storm before and might make a return in 2025. However, not many know of her beginnings. Today, EssentiallySports takes a look at her journey so far.

Gabby Williams – a multi-sport athlete

Not many know but Williams had beginnings in the USA. She was born to Matthew and Therese Williams in Sparks, Nevada in the USA on Septemeber 9, 1996. She formed a close relationship with her family members, especially from her mother’s side. Her mother Therese is from France and Williams grew up conversing in French with her grandmother. 

Since her childhood, Williams displayed an affinity for the ball. She was interested in sports and was a multi-sport athlete. Her high school track and field career helped her develop quickness and agility which benefited her when she played ball. She plied her trade at the Edward C. Reed High School and proved her mettle during her years at Reed.

She played in hurdles and also as a high jump athlete. She qualified as an alternate in the 2012 London Olympics although she was relatively too young to make a place for herself in the US World Junior team. Her Olympic trial of clearing 6 feet 2 1⁄4 inches will always be remembered by all the athletes who got fierce competition from her.

After showing her brilliance in school, she got an offer from the University of Connecticut Huskies. She decided to take her balling skills to another level. She stayed with the Geno Auriemma team from 2014-18 and helped them win back-to-back Championship titles in 2015 and 2016. 

Gabby Williams – Preparing an athlete 

During her four-year stint with the Huskies, Williams averaged a decent 10.6 points with 6.8 rebounds per game and 3.2 assists per game. Therefore, she showed that she was capable of playing both the second fiddle and the third or the fourth player. Though she wasn’t much dominant in her offensive skills nonetheless she could have been a valuable addition to any team.

Taking cognizance of her on-court brilliance, Williams was drafted as the fourth overall pick by the Chicago Sky in 2018. She played for the Sky from 2018-21 and in 2022 she was traded to the Seattle Storm.

During her three seasons with the Sky, her best year came in 2020 when she averaged 7.7 points with 4 rebounds per game. It is to be noted that despite her exceptional assisting ability Williams wasn’t the chief assist-maker for the Sky and this took a toll on her game as her assists average decreased. 

After being traded to the Storm her best season with them came in 2023 when she scored 8.4 points per game with 3.6 rebounds per game. Her assists average also increased to 3.8 per game. All was going well for her when she suffered a stress fracture in her foot that ended her season. Hence, her W career was marred by controversies and injuries and she had to end it for some or the other reason. 

Gabby Williams- realizes her Olympic Dream

As mentioned before, Williams took advantage of her French lineage as she decided to ply her trade for the French national team. That however came with its own repercussions. Williams had to forego a WNBA season since she was practicing with the French National team and couldn’t show up in time for the Chicago Sky training camp. 

The officials did not reach an understanding with Williams who had to take solace in the fact that she was playing an Olympics. If that wasn’t enough, her Olympic camp started off on a wrong note. The Japan upset the France national team by a 74-70 margin. Nonetheless, Williams did not lose faith. 

She dominated in a must-win situation against Nigeria when she scored 13 points with 9 rebounds. She also led her team in steals. Thus, the French won by an 87-62 margin which again showed her potential. However, against the USA, the French team lost. But Williams was again applauded as she helped her team to get close to their opponents with an 83-92 tally. The USA haven’t lost an Olympic game since 1992 and therefore the French coming close was in itself a kind of victory for them.

However, during the semifinal game, France had to compete with the home team Japan who again trumped them to win the game by an 87-71 margin. Thus, Williams  & Co. had then to be at loggerheads against Serbia for the bronze medal. Though Serbia started out strong, France took the lead and won by a 91-76 margin. Hence, Williams realized her Olympic dream.

Williams’s story is one of making way for oneself in a world that is full of neck-to-neck competition. She fiercely stuck to her path, gave her best, and made it to the Olympic team despite the odds. Hopefully, Williams will once again come out stronger in this Olympics and help France secure a dominant position.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.