Valkyries rally past Wings 77-73 to win first WNBA playoff series
Williams' go-ahead jumper seals Game 3; semifinals vs Aces next at Chase
2 min read
File photo: Indiana Fever at Golden State Valkyries, Chase Center, August 2025. Photo: Sarah Stierch (Missvain), CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Golden State Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their WNBA first-round series on Friday in San Francisco, securing the franchise's first playoff series victory.
Williams seals it
Gabby Williams scored 19 points, including a go-ahead 17-footer with 1:17 remaining that put Golden State ahead for good. Veronica Burton finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in a complete two-way performance. A late coach's challenge and replay review with 13.1 seconds left helped the second-seeded Valkyries close out the win after a tense finish.
Dallas stars
Arike Ogunbowale led Dallas with 30 points and kept the Wings competitive deep into the fourth quarter. Paige Bueckers added 17 points and six assists but shot 3 for 14 from the field, struggling to find her shooting rhythm on a night when Dallas needed more efficiency from its star rookie.
Road to the semis
Golden State, which last season became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year, advances to the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday at Chase Center, where the Valkyries will look to build on Friday's comeback and continue their rapid rise in only their second season.
The rally from 16 points down capped a series in which Golden State showed resilience after trailing for long stretches of Game 3. Williams' late jumper and Burton's all-around production gave the Valkyries the edge when it mattered most, while Dallas was left to reflect on missed opportunities despite Ogunbowale's 30-point night.
Coverage was drawn from ESPN and AP reporting via ABC News.
