Golden State Advances — Dallas’ Promising Season Ends With a Familiar Problem

Golden State is moving on — and it took a comeback worthy of a winner-take-all playoff game to get there.

The Valkyries erased a 16-point second-half deficit and defeated the Dallas Wings 77-73 at Chase Center, securing the first playoff-series victory in franchise history and a trip to the WNBA Semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces.

Golden State refused to go away

Dallas appeared ready to take control after scoring 18 straight points between the end of the first half and the start of the third quarter. But Golden State stayed within striking distance. The Valkyries closed the third quarter strong, then tied the game at 65 in the fourth before finally taking control down the stretch.

Gabby Williams led Golden State with 19 points, including 17 in the second half. Tiffany Hayes added 18, while Veronica Burton delivered 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. When Dallas briefly reclaimed a five-point lead late, Williams answered with consecutive baskets and then knocked down four clutch free throws to help finish the comeback.

Arike gave Dallas another big night

Arike Ogunbowale followed her historic 45-point performance in Game 2 with another aggressive scoring effort in the deciding game. Dallas built the lead it needed and had Golden State on the ropes, but this time the Wings could not close the door.

A season of real progress — with a familiar lesson

Dallas should not leave this season defined only by one playoff loss. The Wings finished 27-17 after winning just 10 games in 2025, a 17-win improvement that set a WNBA record for the largest single-season turnaround. They also established franchise regular-season marks in wins and winning percentage.

That progress is real. So is the lesson from Game 3.

Dallas proved throughout the night that it could create separation against one of the league's best teams. The problem was sustaining control once Golden State changed the momentum. In a winner-take-all game, a 16-point advantage disappeared, and the Wings again found themselves needing late-game shot-making to survive.

That does not fall on one player or one possession. It raises an offseason question for the entire organization: how does Dallas become better at controlling games when opponents make their inevitable run? Whether the answer comes through coaching adjustments, cleaner late-game execution, roster decisions or some combination, protecting leads and responding to momentum swings should be part of the next stage of this team's growth.

The Wings proved they can build a lead against good teams. The next step is learning how to finish them.

What's next

Golden State advances to the WNBA Semifinals and will host the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 at Chase Center.

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