Story perspectives

Valkyries Rally Late to Clinch First Playoff Series Win

By Drooid · Oct 4, 2026, 11:35 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Valkyries Clinch Series

Golden State Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit to beat Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3, clinching their first playoff series win.
Gabby Williams scored 19 points, including a 17-footer with 1:17 left and eight points of a 10-1 run.
Natalie Nakase will coach semifinal Game 1 after collapsing from exhaustion in the first-round clincher.
The Valkyries earned the No. 2 seed, setting a league attendance record of 18,000 fans per game.

Summary

Nakase Named Coach

Natalie Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Valkyries to a 32-12 record.
She assisted Becky Hammon from 2022-2024 as the Aces won championships in 2022 and 2023.
Nakase turned down several head-coaching offers before joining the Valkyries, citing loyalty to Hammon.
The Aces swept all three regular-season meetings, including a 92-73 win on June 21.
ESPN predicts a 64.1% chance the Valkyries win Game 1.

History

Historical Context

When the WNBA launched in 1997, the Houston Comets captured the league’s first championship, defeating the New York Liberty in a best-of-three series. Cynthia Cooper led Houston with 22.8 points per game, while league-wide average attendance reached 9,689 fans per contest that season. Today's Golden State Valkyries echo that breakthrough, erasing a 16-point deficit to win Game 3 and setting a new attendance record of 18,000 fans per game. The 1997 precedent shows how early league milestones fuel rapid growth, suggesting the Valkyries’ success will accelerate WNBA viewership and inspire more female coaching hires.

1 of 3

Valkyries Clinch Series

Golden State Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit to beat Dallas Wings 77-73 in Game 3, clinching their first playoff series win.
Gabby Williams scored 19 points, including a 17-footer with 1:17 left and eight points of a 10-1 run.
Natalie Nakase will coach semifinal Game 1 after collapsing from exhaustion in the first-round clincher.
The Valkyries earned the No. 2 seed, setting a league attendance record of 18,000 fans per game.

1 / 3