Golden State made history Friday night, rallying from an 11-point deficit to defeat the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 87-77 in overtime and complete a three-game sweep of the semifinal series. The victory sends the Valkyries to the WNBA Finals for the first time, making them the first expansion franchise to reach the championship round within its first two seasons.
The Valkyries will face the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series beginning Oct. 17 in San Francisco. Atlanta also advanced with a three-game semifinal sweep, eliminating the New York Liberty.
For Golden State, the accomplishment represents another milestone for a franchise that has consistently exceeded expectations since entering the league.
“To be here in this moment is a blessing. We’re making history,” guard Veronica Burton said. “This is unimaginable, but for us it’s so realistic. It’s what we expected and what we worked toward. It’s what we believed in the entire year. … We had ultimate confidence coming in here.”
Head coach Natalie Nakase shared in the excitement, recognizing how quickly the team has progressed from an expansion franchise to a championship contender.
“Big dreams. This is a dream come true to be going to the Finals in our second year,” Nakase said.
A Franchise Continues to Rewrite History
Golden State’s rise has been one of the WNBA’s most impressive stories. Last season, the Valkyries became the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural campaign, earning the eighth seed and gaining valuable postseason experience.
The franchise initially assembled its roster through an expansion draft, selecting players who had been left available by their former teams. Golden State then strengthened its lineup during the offseason by adding forward Gabby Williams and center Kiah Stokes through free agency. Both proved instrumental as the team developed into a serious championship threat.
The Valkyries entered this year’s playoffs as the No. 2 seed, backed by the league’s top-ranked defense. Despite that achievement, they faced another difficult challenge against Las Vegas and five-time WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson, the centerpiece of the reigning champions.
Golden State responded by eliminating the Aces without dropping a game.
Williams said the team’s success has been especially satisfying after spending much of the season without receiving widespread recognition.
“It feels special because this is a special group,” Williams said. “We are going to get some bandwagoners because we weren’t getting no love all season. Honestly, no one believed in us, but it honestly made us smile. All we need is each other.”
Forward Kayla Thornton also reflected on the difficulty of sweeping a championship-caliber opponent.
“This was a rough road. To beat Vegas 3-0, it’s crazy,” Thornton said.
Defensive Pressure Sparks a Remarkable Comeback
Friday’s deciding game required Golden State to overcome its toughest challenge of the series. The Valkyries fell behind by 11 points early in the third quarter, their largest deficit against Las Vegas during the matchup and their first double-digit disadvantage in the series.
Rather than lose their composure, the Valkyries leaned on the defensive identity that had carried them throughout the season.
Golden State had already demonstrated its ability to recover from difficult situations. In the previous round against the Dallas Wings, the Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit in Game 3 before securing the victory.
Nakase urged her players to respond to the adversity by tightening their communication and relying on one another.
“I told them to remember our response is to come closer together, come tighter, to huddle up and grab hands, to communicate,” Nakase said. “It wasn’t us. … We were like, OK, let’s come back out, be us and bring it to another level.”
The message produced an immediate turnaround. Golden State unleashed a 17-0 run over approximately seven minutes, transforming its deficit into a five-point advantage. The Valkyries’ defense limited Las Vegas to just seven points in the third quarter, shifting the momentum of the game.
The Aces managed to regroup in the fourth, building a six-point lead with three minutes remaining. But Golden State once again found a way to respond.
With 1:50 left in regulation and the Valkyries trailing by two, Williams delivered a crucial defensive sequence against Wilson. She stripped the ball from the Las Vegas star and quickly moved possession to Thornton, who finished with a layup to tie the game.
Williams explained that she relied on her quickness to make the play.
“Obviously, I wasn’t blocking her, so I was just trying to beat her with my speed,” Williams said.
The defensive stop and Thornton’s basket helped Golden State force overtime, setting the stage for the franchise’s biggest victory to date.
Valkyries Take Control in Overtime
Before the extra period began, Burton reminded her teammates that they had an opportunity to finish the job and make history.
“Now is our time — this is it, so lay it all out there,” Burton recalled telling the team.
Burton believed Golden State still had another level to reach despite the demanding comeback.
“We knew we had an extra gear in us,” she said. “That’s the beauty of our team. We play so many people, so we knew we had an extra gear.”
The Valkyries delivered their strongest basketball when it mattered most, outscoring Las Vegas 16-6 in overtime to secure the 10-point victory and complete the sweep.
Thornton, Williams and Tiffany Hayes accounted for all of Golden State’s points in the extra period, finishing with 18, 16 and 11 points, respectively. Stokes contributed 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots, providing a valuable presence on both ends of the floor.
The balanced effort underscored the depth that has helped the Valkyries thrive throughout the postseason. Rather than relying on a single player to carry the team, Golden State consistently received contributions from multiple players while maintaining its defensive intensity.
Nakase praised her team’s determination and the collective effort required to overcome the defending champions.
“I told them I was proud of our whole team,” the coach said. “I saw another level of fight tonight. We talked about leveling up one more as a team, and I think overtime proved that. Strength in numbers. We really left it all out there on the floor. We emptied the tank.”
One More Challenge Awaits
The Valkyries’ sweep of Las Vegas represents another extraordinary achievement for a franchise that has accelerated its development far beyond its original timeline. After reaching the playoffs in its inaugural season, Golden State has now earned a place in the WNBA Finals during its second year.
The road ahead will present a different challenge against Atlanta, which enters the championship series after sweeping New York behind the leadership of Angel Reese and a resilient team effort.
With the Finals scheduled to begin Oct. 17 in San Francisco, the Valkyries will have the opportunity to pursue the championship they envisioned when the franchise was created.
Golden State has already established itself as one of the league’s most formidable defensive teams. Now, with a historic series victory behind them, the Valkyries are preparing for their biggest test yet: turning an unprecedented postseason run into the first championship in franchise history.
