The Golden State Valkyries just pulled off an insane 16-point comeback, beating the Dallas Wings 77-73 in a deciding Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series last night at Chase Center. This wasn’t just any win, either. This is the Valkyries’ first playoff series victory in franchise history, and it means they’re officially headed to the semifinals. Talk about flipping the script when it mattered most!
Third Quarter Magic: From Duds to Daggers
It felt like the Valkyries were sleepwalking for a good chunk of that game. Early on, their defensive intensity was, well, *placid*, which just set them up for a brutal uphill climb. They were shooting a rough 33% from the field in the first half, going 13-for-35, and making only 3 of 13 from beyond the arc. Tiffany Hayes was practically carrying the squad solo in that first half, being the lone spark with a team-leading 13 points, getting downhill, and drawing contact like a boss. But then, with about three minutes left in the third quarter, something just *clicked*. Gabby Williams, who ended up with 19 points, hit a massive 3-pointer, her first from beyond the arc and only her second field goal of the game. That shot got the Valkyries within eight. Then Veronica Burton, who finished with 16 points, followed up with a floater in the paint, getting them even closer. Paige Bueckers hit some free throws, Kiah Stokes got a crucial tip-in, and Kaila Charles even snagged an inbound pass, drawing a foul to get within six. Then Williams struck again with her second 3-pointer of the night, slicing the lead down to just two points. The confidence heading into the final quarter? Sky-high.
Ogunbowale’s Reign and Nakase’s Promise
Arike Ogunbowale from the Wings was absolutely cooking, carrying her tricky shot-making right over from her historic 45-point Game 2 performance. She dropped 17 points in the first half alone, including six points during a 9-0 Wings run that ended the first half with Dallas up 44-37. This wasn’t a surprise after Game 2, where the Valkyries allowed a franchise-high 108 points in an overtime loss, blaming poor communication on assignments. Coach Natalie Nakase was not having it this time. She said pregame, “We’re going to play the best four quarters of defense of our lives. We made a promise to ourselves.” And man, did they deliver on that promise when it counted. Even with Golden State switching in and out of a zone defense, Ogunbowale and the Wings ripped off a terrifying 20-0 run between the second and third quarters, pushing their lead to that daunting 16 points. But that’s when the Valkyries’ intensity flipped. They started forcing misses, applying pressure, and finally generating offense from their defense. The fourth quarter was a tense, back-and-forth battle, but the Valkyries kept their promise and locked it down.
What a series, right? Now, the Valkyries have a quick turnaround. They’re set to face the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinal round, with Game 1 kicking off this Sunday. After a comeback like that and their first-ever series win, you know they’re coming in with all the momentum. Let’s see if they can keep that defensive fire burning!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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