Golden State Valkyries Achieve Historic Success in Second WNBA Season

The Golden State Valkyries have experienced remarkable achievements both on and off the court during their second WNBA season. The expansion team was valued the highest by Forbes just before the league’s 30th season started.

In 2025, the Valkyries became the first expansion team in WNBA history to make it to the playoffs during their inaugural season. Impressively, they sold out every home game and set a league record by averaging over 18,000 attendees per game. This past Friday night, they went a step further by defeating the Dallas Wings in Game 3, securing their first playoff series victory.

Valkyries forward Gabby Williams played a vital role by scoring 19 points as the team overcame a 16-point deficit to beat Dallas 77-73 in a decisive Game 3. During this game, Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton performed remarkably against the Dallas Wings on October 2, 2026, at Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

The crucial moment occurred with 13.1 seconds left on the clock, with Golden State leading by one point. Williams managed to secure her rebound on a play initially called in favor of Dallas, but Coach Natalie Nakase successfully challenged the decision. Following the victory, Nakase was overwhelmed with emotion as her team celebrated on the court.

Dallas star Arike Ogunbowale made a significant impact with 30 points, building on a 45-point performance earlier in the week. Despite her efforts, the Valkyries persevered, largely due to Williams scoring most of her points after halftime and Burton achieving 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists.

Notable contributions included a key layup by Burton and Williams hitting two three-pointers late in the third quarter, advancing Golden State to the semifinals against the reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces. Bench player Tiffany Hayes scored 18 points, while Kaila Charles sank a tying three-pointer and Kiah Stokes secured 13 rebounds.

Paige Bueckers managed 17 points and six assists for Dallas but struggled with her shooting accuracy, although she remained perfect from the free-throw line. The Valkyries’ coach motivated her team to deliver their best performance across all four quarters.

Looking ahead, the Valkyries are set to face the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the semifinals, while the Atlanta Dream will contend with the New York Liberty in the other semifinal matchup.