Golden State completed a dramatic comeback in a deciding Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series, overturning a 16-point deficit to beat the Dallas Wings 77-73. Gabby Williams led the rally with 19 points and buried a 17-foot jumper with 1:17 remaining that put the Valkyries ahead.
The victory sends Golden State into the semifinal round, where they will meet the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. The win came after a tense closing sequence and a replay review that ultimately preserved the Valkyries’ one-point lead in the final seconds.
Late review decides final possession
With 13.1 seconds left and Golden State clinging to a one-point advantage, Williams tracked down her own missed shot on a scramble that officials initially ruled was Dallas’s ball. Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase challenged the call, and the subsequent video review overturned the on-court ruling, awarding possession to Golden State and allowing them to close out the game.
Nakase’s challenge followed a visibly emotional night for the coach, who had earlier fallen to her knees on the sideline before being helped up. After the final buzzer she walked off court escorted by a staff member, holding her face while her players celebrated at midcourt.
The Valkyries’ comeback capped a wild deciding game and marked the end of Dallas’s postseason run. Golden State now shifts focus to the Aces as the WNBA playoffs move into the next round.