Gabby Williams scored 19 points, including a crucial go-ahead jumper with 1:17 left, as the Golden State Valkyries rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series on Friday night.
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With 13.1 seconds remaining and the Valkyries leading by one point, Williams retrieved her own missed shot after it was initially ruled Dallas' ball. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase successfully challenged the call, allowing her team to maintain possession. Nakase, who had briefly collapsed on the sideline, was escorted off the court after the final buzzer while her team celebrated at midcourt.
Arike Ogunbowale scored 30 points for Dallas, adding to her 45-point performance in a previous overtime win. Williams, who scored nearly all of her points in the second half, played a key role in the comeback, along with Veronica Burton, who contributed 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. Burton’s layup with 8:19 remaining brought the Valkyries within two points, followed by two late 3-pointers from Williams.
This victory marks the Valkyries' first playoff series win, following their status as the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season last year. They will face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, starting Sunday at Chase Center. Tiffany Hayes added 18 points off the bench, while Kaila Charles tied the game with a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Despite struggles in the third quarter where the Valkyries missed three consecutive 3-point attempts, they ended this period trailing by just five points. Nakase had expressed her team's commitment to perform their best, especially since they had scored consistently high in previous games.