77-73 Gives the Valkyries Their First Playoff Series Win

Photo: WNBA.com. Official Gabby Williams headshot, Golden State Valkyries.

Gabby Williams hit a 17-foot pullup with 1:17 left, then made four free throws in the final 10 seconds, and the Golden State Valkyries beat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 on Friday night to win the first-round series 2-1.

The win is the first playoff series victory in franchise history. Golden State had trailed by 16 in the third quarter after a 20-0 Wings run that spanned halftime, then outscored Dallas 23-14 in the fourth. Veronica Burton posted 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists in 37 minutes. Tiffany Hayes added 18 off the bench. Williams finished with 19 on 6-of-17 shooting, per the ESPN box score, after a career-high 36 points in Game 2, per ESPN's Kendra Andrews.

Game 2 belonged to Dallas. Arike Ogunbowale scored a playoff-record 45 and forced overtime in a 108-100 Wings win that sent the series back to San Francisco. On Friday she led all scorers with 30 on 11-of-21. Paige Bueckers went 3-of-14 for 17 points and six assists, and made all 10 of her free throws. Jessica Shepard had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Dallas shot 44 percent.

Midway through the third, Dallas led 53-37. Andrews tracked a 20-0 Wings burst across the half and the open of the third, then a 14-4 Valkyries answer over the final 4:54 of that quarter that cut the deficit to five entering the fourth. The 16-point rally is tied for the fifth-largest comeback in a winner-take-all game in WNBA playoff history, per ESPN's Alexa Philippou and Andrews. It is the largest since the Aces' 16-point comeback against the Sun in Game 5 of the 2020 semifinals, per Andrews.

Golden State shot 35 percent for the game, going 27-of-77, and held Dallas to 14 points in the fourth. Williams' go-ahead 17-footer came off a Burton assist at 1:17 and made it 73-72. Her four free throws in the final 10 seconds closed it at 77-73.

That is the identity Natalie Nakase has built since expansion. Golden State allowed a league-low 75.1 points per game in the regular season, per Andrews. Kiah Stokes grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked three shots. Kaila Charles scored 10. Dallas committed 10 turnovers.

The semifinals start Sunday against the No. 3 Las Vegas Aces. Game 1 is at Chase Center at 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock. Game 2 is Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Chase Center at 9:30 p.m. ET on Peacock and NBCSN. Game 3 is Friday, Oct. 9, in Las Vegas at 9:30 p.m. ET, with Games 4 and 5 if needed. Las Vegas is the only team Golden State did not beat in the regular season, per the SF Standard, and A'ja Wilson just closed out Indiana with 36 and 10 after 38 and 16 in Game 1. The Dyme already logged that closeout and the No. 2 seed lock that put this series in San Francisco.

Dallas won 19 games combined over the two prior seasons, per Andrews, and this year pushed the No. 2 seed to a Game 3 despite losing Azzi Fudd and Alanna Smith to injuries late in the regular season, with Ogunbowale scoring 30 and Bueckers and Shepard each in double figures on Friday.

Sources

• ESPN box score / Game 3. Oct 2, 2026. Final GS 77–DAL 73; series GS 2-1. Williams 19 (6-17, 3-6 3PT, 4-4 FT), Burton 16/10/6 in 37 minutes, Hayes 18, Charles 10, Stokes 6/13/3 blk. Ogunbowale 30 (11-21), Bueckers 17 (3-14) with 6 assists and 10-10 FT, Shepard 12/12. GS 27-of-77 (35%); DAL 44%, 10 turnovers. Quarters DAL 19-25-15-14, GS 14-23-17-23. Go-ahead: Williams 17-foot pullup (Burton assist) at 1:17 for 73-72; Williams FTs 9.6 and 6.9.
• ESPN: How the Valkyries advanced to their first semifinals. Kendra Andrews, Oct 2, 2026. Williams career-high 36 in Game 2; 16-point deficit; 20-0 Wings run spanning half and third; 14-4 GS run final 4:54 of third; ties the fifth-largest comeback in a winner-take-all game in WNBA playoff history, largest since the Aces' 16-point comeback against the Sun in Game 5 of the 2020 semifinals; league-low 75.1 PPG allowed; semis vs Aces Sunday; Dallas 19 combined wins over the prior two seasons; Fudd and Smith injuries.
• Alexa Philippou on X. Oct 2, 2026. 16-point deficit; tied for fifth-largest winner-take-all playoff comeback; first playoff series win; LV-GS for Finals berth.
• Alexa Philippou on X. Oct 2, 2026. Semis schedule: Game 1 Sunday, Oct. 4, at Chase Center, 4pm ET, NBC/Peacock; Game 2 Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Chase Center, 9:30pm ET, Peacock/NBCSN; Game 3 Friday, Oct. 9, in Las Vegas, 9:30pm ET; Games 4 and 5 if needed.
• Annie Costabile on X. Oct 2, 2026. Semifinals series set.
• SF Standard: Valkyries win instant classic. Jane Kenny and Kerry Crowley, Oct 2, 2026. 16-point hole with 16 minutes left; Williams go-ahead 17-foot at 1:17; four FTs final 10 seconds; Aces only team GS has not beaten; NaLyssa Smith out for LV.
• theScore. Oct 2, 2026. Williams 19; Hayes 18; Ogunbowale 30; first series win after 2025 Lynx sweep.
• The Dyme: 76-75 Locks Golden State's No. 2 Seed. Sep 25, 2026.
• The Dyme: A'ja Wilson's 36 and 10 Close Out the Fever. Oct 2, 2026.
• The Dyme: Arike Ogunbowale's 45 Sets WNBA Playoff Scoring Record. Oct 1, 2026.
• Photo: WNBA.com. Official Gabby Williams headshot, Golden State Valkyries.