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Valkyries Rally Past Wings to Reach First Semifinals

9:04 AM ETConfirmed

Sports Desk

In Short: The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 to secure their first playoff series win and advance to the semifinals.

The Golden State Valkyries rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA playoff series, securing their first playoff series win and advancing to the semifinals.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 19 points, while Tiffany Hayes added 18 points, Veronica Burton contributed 16, and Kaila Charles scored 10.

The Valkyries went on a 14-4 surge over the final 4:54 of the third quarter, cutting the lead to five points heading into the fourth.

With 1:17 left in the game, Williams hit a go-ahead 17-foot pullup jumper, and the Valkyries sealed the victory with strong defense and free throws.

The Valkyries will face the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, with Game 1 set for Sunday in San Francisco.

The Aces, the reigning WNBA champions, advanced with a 94-83 victory over the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx.

The Valkyries, an expansion franchise that entered the league last season, have defied the odds and are now heading to the semifinals for the first time in franchise history.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase collapsed briefly on the floor during a heated discussion with officials in the final two minutes but quickly recovered.

The Valkyries' historic win marks the first playoff series victory for the franchise, which received the league’s highest valuation from Forbes before the 2026 season tipped off.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• 7 Dallas Wings on Friday at Chase Center to set up the semifinals.
• Gabby Williams capped a big second half by scoring Golden State’s last eight points in a game-ending 10-1 run as the Valkyries rallied past the Dallas Wings 77-73 in the decisive Game 3 of their WNBA first-round playoff series in San Francisco on Friday.
• Golden State, in its second season, is headed to the league semifinals for the first time.
• Tiffany Hayes scored 18 for the second-seeded Valkyries, who will have the home-court advantage when they face the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-five set that tips off Sunday in San Francisco.
• But Williams, benched early in the third quarter while struggling with just two points, re-entered the contest with three minutes remaining in the period and proceeded to score 17 points over the final 13 minutes, carrying the Valkyries to the victory.
• But Kaila Charles and Williams countered with hoops, and when the Golden State All-Star hit from mid-range with 77 seconds left, the Valkyries had the lead for good.

What's still developing

• Here's how the Valkyries did it -- and what the result means for both teams.
• The Wings ended the first half and opened the third quarter on fire -- going on a 20-0 run that spanned the two quarters.
• No portion of WNBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form.
• The Valkyries won the opener 104-80 before the Wings forced a deciding game with a 108-100 overtime victory Wednesday.
• The result will determine not only the Aces’ opponent, but also which team has home-court advantage in the best-of-five semifinals.
• After watching a 37-33 lead turn into a 53-37 deficit, the Valkyries faced a kind of pressure they’ve never known.
• 1 Minnesota Lynx, the Valkyries were a heavy underdog and simply keeping their lone elimination game close was an achievement.
• Poor communication on assignments hampered the Valkyries in a troubling Game 2 in which they allowed a franchise-high 108 points in an overtime loss, they determined.
• Valkyries guard Veronica Burton drives through the lane while being guarded by Wings guard Odyssey Sims during the second quarter on Friday night at Chase Center.
• The Valkyries’ Kaila Charles, right, and Wings guard Odyssey Sims scramble for a rebound during the second quarter Friday at Chase Center.
• "I think just the fact that we knew it was the last 10 minutes of the game, backs against the wall, pressure situation," Hayes said when asked what changed for the Valkyries.
• After a stunning overtime win in Game 2, the Wings carried that momentum into Game 3 and built a nine-point lead early in the second quarter.

Sources

• CBS Sportslink
• Espnlink
• Field Level Medialink
• Fox Newslink
• Golden State Valkyrieslink
• Las Vegas Review-Journallink
• Swish Appeallink
• sfchronicle.comlink
• Espnlink
• Swishappeallink
• Sfstandardlink
• CBS Sportslink
• Bleacherreportlink
• Yardbarkerlink
• Mercurynewslink
• Las Vegas Review-Journallink
• KPIX | CBS NEWS BAY AREA — video link