+34
Gabby Williams scored 19 points as Golden State erased a 16-point deficit to beat Dallas 77-73 and advance to the WNBA semi-finals
WNBA playoffs: Valkyries rally from 16 down to oust Wings and reach last fourValkyries advance to face defending champion AcesGolden State Valkyries won a late replay review to complete a rally from 16 points down and beat the Dallas Wings 77-73 on Friday night in a wild deciding Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series.
With 13.1 seconds left and Golden State leading by one, Williams jumped back inbounds to corral her own miss on a play that was originally ruled Dallas’ ball, but Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase – who moments earlier had fallen to her knees on the sideline before being helped up – successfully challenged the call. Nakase walked off the court escorted by a member of her staff after the final buzzer, holding her face as the team celebrated at midcourt.
The team said afterward that she was fine and expected to coach Sunday in Game 1, but assistant coach Kasib Powell addressed the media in the postgame news conference where Nakase typically speaks. The Valkyries will be back at rocking Ballhalla for the series opener, with the team’s deafening, violet-crazed home crowd at Chase Center.
Arike Ogunbowale knocked down an off-balance jumper with 3:13 to play that put Dallas up by five and finished with 30 points, following a 45-point performance in the Wings’ overtime win Wednesday night at home. Williams scored all but two of her points after halftime. Veronica Burton had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
Burton’s layup with 8:19 to play pulled the Valkyries within 61-59, Williams hit two three-pointers late in the third and they both willed Golden State into the best-of-five semi-finals against the defendingTiffany Hayes scored 18 points off the bench, Kaila Charles hit a tying three-pointer with 6:51 left and Kiah Stokes pulled down 13 rebounds. The second-seeded Valkyries won a playoff series for the first time.
Last year, they became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. Arike Ogunbowale drives against Veronica Burton during the fourth quarter of the Dallas Wings’ 77-73 loss to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series on Friday in San Francisco. Paige Bueckers had 17 points and six assists but shot only 3-for-14 for Dallas, making all 10 of her free throws.
The Valkyries missed three straight three-pointers and nine shots in a row overall to start the third quarter as Dallas used a 9-0 run to take their largest lead at 53-37. Golden State pulled within 59-54 heading into the final 10 minutes. Ogunbowale was 11-for-21 after scoring a playoff-record 45 points in the Wings’ 108-100 overtime win Wednesday night.
That prompted Nakase to declare before the game: “We made a promise to ourselves we are going to play the best four quarters of our lives. ” She said the Valkyries didn’t recognize themselves in that game – even though the team had scored 100 or more points in the first two matchups, including a 104-80 win in the series opener last Sunday.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Street sports an 'entry point' to help combat youth crime and lonelinessYouth hubs and 'third spaces' for young people are being touted as solutions to growing concerns about youth crime, loneliness and radicalisation.
Read more »
Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever Eliminated from WNBA Playoffs by Las Vegas AcesThe Indiana Fever were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs after losing 94-83 to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of their first-round series. Caitlin Clark was knocked to the floor and left bleeding after taking an elbow to the face during a rebounding contest, but no foul was called. Clark and Fever coach Stephanie White criticized the officiating and the team's disparity in free-throw attempts. Clark and Brianna Turner also received technical fouls during the game.
Read more »
De Minaur Rallies Past Halys to Reach China Open QuarterfinalsAlex de Minaur recovered from a five-match-point deficit to defeat Quentin Halys 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 at the China Open. The Australian advanced to his second consecutive quarterfinal in Beijing, where he will face third-seeded Andrey Rublev.
Read more »
Tigers recruit embarrasses Panthers in 54-point State Championship humiliationTigers recruit embarrasses Panthers in 54-point State Championship humiliation
Read more »