'A switch flipped': Valkyries erase 16-point deficit against Wings, advance to WNBA semis to face the Aces — SkimNews
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- Golden State Valkyries rallied from a 16-point third-quarter hole to beat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3 on Friday, clinching the franchise's first playoff series win one season after entering the league as an expansion franchise.
- Gabby Williams scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half after being benched for over four minutes in the third, hitting the go-ahead mid-range jumper with 1:17 left before icing the game at the free throw line.
- Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase briefly dropped to the court during a heated exchange with officials in the final two minutes; the team told ESPN postgame she got lightheaded from exhaustion but is fine.
- Dallas' Arike Ogunbowale followed her WNBA playoff-record 45-point Game 2 with 30 points in Game 3 despite an apparent late groin injury, while Paige Bueckers added 17 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
- Golden State's league-best defense (99.1 regular-season rating) finally materialized in the final 18:02, holding Dallas to 20 points and 6-of-21 shooting after the Wings had shot 20-of-38 (52.6%) to build their 16-point lead.
- The Valkyries will face the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, with Game 1 set for Sunday in San Francisco.
Why it matters: The expansion Valkyries' first semifinal appearance puts them against the reigning champion Aces on just one day's rest. Their defense (99.1 regular-season rating, best in the WNBA) finally arrived in the final 18 minutes, holding Dallas to 20 points and 6-of-21 shooting after Williams scored 17 of her 19 in the second half to seal it.
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