The Golden State Valkyries swept the defending champions in the semifinals. Their best player barely scored until overtime. That is not a contradiction \u2014 it is the whole point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Golden State’s depth was on full display in its series-clinching win over Las Vegas. Star guard Gabby Williams managed just four points through the first three quarters, then poured in eight in overtime of the 87-77 Game 3 win as teammates carried the load around her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Our depth is a lot of what allowed us to stay healthy and fresh,” Williams said. “I feel really good, especially compared to how I felt at the end of last season.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even the opposing coach noticed. Aces coach Becky Hammon said of Golden State, “They really play great team ball. On any given night, any of them can have 15, 20 on them, because they share the ball. It just seems like nobody cares who gets the credit.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The numbers tell the same story. The Valkyries held opponents to a league-low 80.4 points per game in the postseason, pairing that elite defense with a scoring-by-committee offense \u2014 Golden State ranked only seventh in offense during the regular season but has gotten hot at the right time. Williams herself has raised her scoring from 14.4 points per game in the regular season to 22.7 in the playoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase pointed to consistency as the challenge, especially after Golden State let a 17-point Game 2 lead nearly slip away. “I saw another level of fight tonight,” she said after the clincher. “We really left it all out there on the floor.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That relentless rotation could be the edge in a best-of-seven. Golden State went 17-5 at home this season and will host Games 1, 2 and, if needed, 5 and 7 at Chase Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One caveat: the Valkyries swept the Dream 3-0 in the regular season \u2014 77-66 on June 24, 78-75 on June 26 and 88-83 on July 4 \u2014 but the teams have not played since early July, before the All-Star break. Atlanta has since reeled off a franchise-best 10-game winning streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Either way, the 2026 Finals guarantee a first-time champion. The second-year expansion franchise is four wins away from finishing its rise \u2014 one shared ball at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources: USA Today (Oct 10, 2026); ESPN (Oct 10, 2026); SI (Oct 11, 2026). Williams, Hammon, Nakase comments as reported.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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