One semifinal spot remains, and it comes down to Friday night in San Francisco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Golden State Valkyries and Dallas Wings meet in a winner-take-all Game 3 at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2 at Chase Center, with the victor advancing to face the winner of the Fever-Aces series in the best-of-five semifinals, which tip off October 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Golden State dominated Game 1, 104-80, behind the league\u2019s best defense. But Dallas answered in overtime, taking Game 2 108-100 to force the decider. For the expansion Valkyries \u2014 the No. 2 seed in just their breakthrough season \u2014 a first-round exit at home would be a stunning end to a remarkable year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the Wings, it\u2019s another big stage for second-year star Paige Bueckers, named to the AP All-WNBA Second Team this week, to prove she belongs among the league\u2019s brightest young stars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first round has already delivered historic results: the No. 8 seed New York Liberty swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0, the Atlanta Dream swept Washington to reach the semifinals for the first time in eight years, and the Fever and Aces battled to a final game in Las Vegas. The Liberty will face the Dream in the other semifinal series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources: ESPN playoff schedule and results (Oct 1, 2026). Stats as reported.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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