Golden State Valkyries forward (#1) Gabby Williams, right, shoots against Dallas Wings guard (#5) Paige Bueckers during the first half of Game 3 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, in San Francisco. (Photo credits to AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
By Michael Villanueva
SAN FRANCISCO – On the first Friday night of October in Ballhalla, the Golden State Valkyries faced a win-or-go-home situation against the Dallas Wings in the 2026 WNBA First Round playoffs. The Valkyries had an explosive fourth-quarter performance, putting up 23 points. Their efforts and the team’s determination punched their ticket to the WNBA semifinals. Golden State Valkyries would take the series over the Dallas Wings 2-1 in the First Round.
Back in Game 2 of this round one battle between Golden State and Dallas. The Wings took advantage of playing on their home court and got the Win. Dallas Arike Ogunbowale dropped 45 points in that game to keep the Wings’ postseason alive. While the Valkyries Gabby Williams retaliated with 19 points in that one, it wasn’t enough for Golden State.
The Wings sent out Paige Bueckers, Jessica Shepard, Maddy Siegrist, Arike Ogunbowale, and Awak Kuier for their starting five with hopes of the team moving on to the next round. The Wings are trying to reach the semifinals for the second time in six postseason appearances since moving to the Dallas area in 2016. Paige Bueckers, the 2025 No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year who is in her first playoff series, dropped 10 points and four assists in game 2.
Golden State’s Friday night starting five to keep their postseason alive is Veronica Burton, Kiah Stokes, Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, and Cecilia Zandalasini. The Valkyries are trying to advance in the playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s second season. The Valkyries record in Ballhalla this season and in the postseason is 16-5 heading into this game.
In the first quarter, Dallas took it to Golden State. The Valkyries have a history of playing better basketball at home, so the Wings wanted to come at them and put Golden State in an awkward position to start the game. On every shot attempt, Dallas would crash the paint and fight for the rebound. The Wings were securing rebounds early in the game, which led to them getting points on the board through second chances.
At halftime, Dallas had the lead over Golden State, 44-37. Both teams were struggling shooting from deep; both of them were shooting under 23% at the three-point line. However, Wing’s Arike Ogunbowale powers a late second-quarter surge to open up a 7-point halftime lead on the Valkyries. Ogunbowale would put up 17 points by herself in the first half.
Going into the third quarter, Golden State was still struggling on their offense and was letting Dallas set the tone coming back from halftime. Although the Wings had more turnovers than the Valkyries, Dallas had 6 and Golden State had 3. The Wings were still making shots in the paint while the Valkyries couldn’t get anything to fall early in the third quarter.
Halfway in the third quarter, the Valkyries missed their last 12 shot attempts, which led the Wings to push their lead to double digits. Dallas went on an 18-0 scoring run during the Valkyries shooting struggle, with six minutes left. The Wings’ lead would jump to 16 points, 53-37. Valkyries would also go 2-15 in the third quarter.
At the end of the third quarter, the score would be 59-54, with Dallas holding the lead over Golden State. However, the Valkyries were starting to see shots going in, and that finally set the spark they needed to get back in this game. With Golden State playing catch-up in the final minutes, Kaila Charles would make a big three-pointer to tie the game 65-65, halfway in the fourth quarter.
With four minutes left in the game, Valkyries Tiffany Hayes would foul Arike Ogunbowale, which would send her to the free-throw line. Ogunbowale would make both of her free throws and give Dallas back the lead, 70-67. Going into the final two minutes, Golden State would go on an 8-0 scoring run; 6 of those points belong to Gabby Williams.
With no timeouts left for Dallas as the game enters the final thirteen seconds, with the Valkyries holding a 1-point lead over the Wings, 73-72. Gabby Williams would try her best to put Dallas away. The Valkyries would give Williams the ball, and she would drive it to the paint, get fouled, and make her free throws. She would extend Golden State’s lead to three points, 75-72. In Dallas’s final moments of hope, Paige Buckers would miss a running pull-up 3-point jumper.
As the clock winds down, the Golden State Valkyries claim the final spot in the WNBA Semi-Finals. Golden State was led by Veronica Burton, who put up 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. This playoff series win is the first ever in franchise history for Golden State. The Valkyries will face reigning champions, the Las Vegas Aces, with a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line.
