Gabby Williams scored 19 points and hit a crucial go-ahead shot from 17 feet with 1:17 remaining, leading the Golden State Valkyries to a 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series on Friday night. The Valkyries rallied from a 16-point deficit in a thrilling conclusion to the game.
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With just 13.1 seconds left and Golden State ahead by one, Williams managed to retrieve her own missed shot, overturning an initial call that awarded possession to Dallas. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase successfully challenged the ruling, despite moments earlier needing assistance after collapsing on the sidelines. After the game, she was escorted off the court but was reported to be fine and expected to coach in Game 1 on Sunday, although assistant coach Kasib Powell addressed the media instead.
The series opener will be held at Chase Center, where the Valkyries boast a passionate home crowd. Arike Ogunbowale led the Wings with 30 points, including an off-balance jumper that had given Dallas a five-point lead late in the game. Williams scored most of her points after halftime, and Veronica Burton contributed with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.
Burton's layup with 8:19 remaining cut the deficit to 61-59, and Williams later made two key three-pointers, propelling the Valkyries into the semi-finals against the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces. Tiffany Hayes added 18 points off the bench, while Kaila Charles and Kiah Stokes also made significant contributions.
This marks the Valkyries' first playoff series win; last year, they became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. Meanwhile, Ogunbowale shot 11-for-21 and had previously set a playoff record with 45 points in the Wings’ overtime win on Wednesday. Nakase had emphasized the team's intention to give their best performance, noting that they were determined to improve from their earlier games despite scoring over 100 points in previous matchups.