The WNBA is gearing up for its own version of the Final Four. The Golden State Valkyries secured their spot in the semifinals by edging out the Dallas Wings 77-73 on October 2 at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Golden State will now host the third-seeded Las Vegas Aces in the first game of a best-of-five semifinals series set for Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC. Among the packed crowd was Star Wars creator George Lucas, adding to the vibrant atmosphere dubbed “Ballhalla.” Valkyries star Gabby Williams remarked to ESPN after the game, “There’s some magic in this building, I swear there is.”
Winners
Valkyries All-Star Gabby Williams
Despite a tough first half, Williams carried the Valkyries in the fourth quarter, scoring all eight of their final points in the last two minutes to clinch the win. The French national team standout finished with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, making all four of her free throws. Guard Tiffany Hayes praised her leadership, calling Williams “our dog” and the go-to player in clutch moments. Williams, shooting a career-best 34.2% from beyond the arc this season, also hit key three-pointers to help erase a 16-point deficit. After a career-high 36 points in Game 2’s loss, Williams finally shone in this crucial victory to propel Golden State to their first playoff series win.
Golden State Valkyries Fans
The Chase Center has been sold out for 46 straight games, and the fans will enjoy more home matchups. Soccer star Megan Rapinoe attended Game 1, and Lucas’s presence at Game 3 signals growing recognition from celebrities. Williams noted how the crowd’s noise energized the team, forcing them to communicate louder and boost their intensity, stating “we definitely owe Ballhalla a big thank you for tonight.”
Valkyries Defense When It Counts
Though the Valkyries dominated defensively during the regular season, allowing just 75.1 points per game, their defense lagged in Game 2. In Game 3, despite allowing Wings star Arike Ogunbowale to score 21 points through three quarters, Golden State’s defense tightened in the final period, holding Dallas to 14 points while scoring 10 second-chance points themselves. They also recorded six steals and blocks in the fourth quarter, showing resilience when it mattered most.
Losers
Dallas Wings Guard Paige Bueckers
In a pivotal game, Bueckers struggled offensively, scoring 17 points with six assists but shooting only 3-for-14 from the floor and 1-for-4 on three-pointers. A sharper shooting night might have changed the outcome in this win-or-go-home scenario. Nevertheless, Wings coach Jose Fernandez defended her, emphasizing her invaluable contribution and leadership throughout the season, calling her a “first-team All-WNBA player” and the driving force behind the team’s success. Ogunbowale echoed the sentiment, praising Bueckers for her determination all season.
Dallas Wings Bench
Much like the Las Vegas Aces’ bench in their Game 3 victory over the Indiana Fever, the Wings’ reserves contributed less than 10 points in the loss. The Aces could rely on their star trio for 77 points combined, while Dallas leaned heavily on Ogunbowale’s 30 points with Bueckers and Jessica Shepard adding 17 and 12 points respectively. The bench struggled, with only Tiffany Hayes providing a significant 18 points for Golden State off the bench. Coach Fernandez’s limited rotation of players beyond the starters saw minimal offense, highlighting the need for more production from the Wings’ reserves moving forward.
Fan Take: This thrilling win marks a critical moment for the Golden State Valkyries as they advance deeper into the playoffs, showcasing the rising talent and competitive intensity of the WNBA. For fans and the sport alike, it signals not only growing fan engagement and star power but also an increasingly dynamic and exciting basketball product that could elevate the league’s profile nationally and globally.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
