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Valkyries Rally to Reach First Semifinals
Confirmed
In Short: The Golden State Valkyries clinched their first playoff series victory and advanced to the WNBA semifinals with a 77-73 win over the Dallas Wings in Game 3 on Friday at Chase Center.
The Golden State Valkyries clinched their first playoff series victory and advanced to the WNBA semifinals with a 77-73 win over the Dallas Wings in Game 3 on Friday at Chase Center.
The Valkyries, who joined the league last season, overcame a 16-point deficit in the second half to secure the historic win.
Williams had struggled earlier in the game, but she scored 17 points over the final 13 minutes to carry the Valkyries to victory.
The Wings had built a 20-0 run spanning the second and third quarters, but the Valkyries rallied with a 14-4 surge late in the third quarter.
The Valkyries will face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, with Game 1 set for Sunday in San Francisco.
Tiffany Hayes added 18 points for the Valkyries, while Veronica Burton and Kaila Charles also scored in double figures.
The Valkyries' defense tightened in the final minutes, holding the Wings scoreless for the last 77 seconds.
The Valkyries' historic win marks the first time the franchise has reached the semifinals.
Tickets for the Valkyries' semifinals games at Chase Center will be available starting Saturday, October 3.
The Valkyries will host Game 1 and Game 2 of the best-of-five semifinals series on October 4 and October 7.
What this adds
The Valkyries' comeback is the first playoff series win in franchise history.
The game was a dramatic turnaround from a 16-point deficit in the second half.
The Valkyries' defense played a crucial role in the final minutes of the game.
Background
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 defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 to secure their first playoff series win and advance to the semifinals.
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.
- The Valkyries built on that successful debut Friday night, rallying past the Dallas Wings in Game 3 to secure the first playoff series victory in franchise history.
- The first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs concluded on Friday night, with the Golden State Valkyries defeating the Dallas Wings 77-73 in a deciding Game 3 of their first-round series.
What's still developing
- 2 Golden State Valkyries are the highest remaining seed after beating the No.
- Here's how the Valkyries did it -- and what the result means for both teams.
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- The semifinals begin Sunday with the winners advancing to the best-of-seven WNBA Finals, which are scheduled to begin Oct. 17.
- 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.
- Trailing by 16 points with 16 minutes left in a winner-take-all Game 3, Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton began the arduous process of chipping away at a comeback that propelled her team to a 77-73 victory and a berth in the WNBA semifinals.
- Point guard Veronica Burton gave a heroic effort and Gabby Williams hit the go-ahead shot with 77 seconds remaining to stun the Wings.
- The Golden State Valkyries gave up 20 consecutive points, missed 13 shots in a row, and somehow won the most important game in franchise history.
- Gabby Williams hit a go-ahead 17-foot pullup jumper with 1:17 remaining, the Valkyries played lights-out defense in the closing 77 seconds, and Williams iced the game with four free throws in the final 10 seconds to cap off a dramatic best-of-three series.
- 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.