The Golden State Valkyries will host the Dallas Wings on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Chase Center in San Francisco in a winner-take-all Game 3 in the opening round of the WNBA Playoffs.
Friday night’s clash between the No. 7 Wings and the No. 2 Valkyries is the final game in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. The winner will face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. If the Valkyries win, they will host the Aces, while if the Wings win they will remain on the West Coast and play Game 1 at Las Vegas.
The Wings’ victory in Game 2 was arguably the most exciting game of the postseason so far, as Dallas needed a miraculous effort and clutch shot-making from Arike Ogunbowale to keep their playoff hopes alive. Ogunbowale hit a 3-pointer with
4.1 seconds remaining in regulation to push the game into overtime, then hit two more impressive shots from deep with defenders in her grill in the extra period to push the Wings to a victory.
Ogunbowale’s 45 points were a career-high and set a WNBA record for the most points scored by a player in a postseason game. Gabby Williams of Golden State had a career night as well, scoring 36 points, but her impressive performance was overshadowed by the Valkyries’ defeat.
“Arike likes that step-back. We just have to make sure we take that away. And then once she's rolling, you know, we have to respond. We have to maybe throw more bodies at her. She did a hell of a job," Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. "Credit to Arike. She made a tough shot. We know she likes that step back left, so that's kind of what was really frustrating. We didn't get into her. We didn't force her to her right."
The Valkyries are now 4-1 against the Wings this year.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Golden State Valkyries versus the Dallas Wings in the WNBA playoffs:
Dallas Wings vs Golden State Valkyries | Live updates from Game 3 of WNBA playoffs:
Golden State Valkyries highlights: Cecilia Zandalasini with turnaround jumper
09:28 PM ET, October 2 2026🤌🤌 @ceciznd only knows smooth j's pic.twitter.com/HEePjkZC4C
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) October 3, 2026
Wings vs Valkyries score: Dallas leads 19-14, end of first quarter
09:27 PM ET, October 2 2026The Dallas Wings lead by five points at the end of the first period in a do-or-die Game 3 in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs. The Valkyries 14 points is the lowest they have scored in any quarter of the postseason this year.
Arike Ogunbowale leads the Wings with six points, while Tiffany Hayes has five points off the bench for Golden State.
Dallas Wings highlights: Awak Kuier with a tough bucket in traffic
09:24 PM ET, October 2 2026get a buckettttttt K 🪣 pic.twitter.com/G0LmsQzyD5
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) October 3, 2026
Dallas Wings lead early
09:19 PM ET, October 2 2026Aziaha James and Alysha Clark have entered the game for the Dallas Wings with under three minutes remaining in the first quarter as the Wings lead 15-6 at Golden State.
Game 3 between Valkyries and Wings is underway
09:08 PM ET, October 2 2026The ball has tipped off in Game 3 between the Dallas Wings and Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco. The game is airing live on ESPN2.
Dallas Wings starting lineup for Game 3 vs Golden State Valkyries
08:59 PM ET, October 2 2026The Dallas Winsg will roll with the same starting five in Game 3:
- Paige Bueckers
- Arike Ogunbowale
- Maddy Siegrist
- Jessica Shepard
- Awak Kuier
Golden State Valkyries Game 3 starting lineup vs Dallas Wings
08:38 PM ET, October 2 2026The Valkyries will keep their same starting five for Game 3 vs. the Wings:
- Cecilia Zandalasini
- Veronica Burton
- Gabby Williams
- Kayla Thornton
- Kiah Stokes
Awak Kuier will play for Dallas Wings in Game 3
08:26 PM ET, October 2 2026The Dallas Wings said center Awak Kuier will be available to play in Game 3 of the first round of the WNBA playoffs against the Golden State Valkyries. Kuier left Game 2 early with what appeared to be an injury to her right wrist.
Kuier, a 6-foot-6 center from Egypt, has started 26 of the 41 games she has appeared in for the Wings this season and averages 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.8 blocks in 18.6 minutes per game. She ranks third in the WNBA in total blocks this season with 72.
Awak Kuier is available for tonight’s game at Golden State@DallasWings #WingsUp
— Dallas Wings PR (@DallasWingsPR) October 3, 2026
Pick up ... it's AN AWAK DUNK ON THE LINE 📞 pic.twitter.com/rhkrtANwrE
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) October 2, 2026
Wings arrivals
07:38 PM ET, October 2 2026, Heather BurnsGood things come in threes ✔️ pic.twitter.com/2SNL2VJItA
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) October 2, 2026
All for Dallas 🪽 pic.twitter.com/vgjvEFlXAU
— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) October 2, 2026
Arike's big night
07:36 PM ET, October 2 2026, Heather BurnsDon't forget what got us to a Game 3. The Wings trailed the Valkyries 93-90 with 14.6 seconds remaining in the game. That's when Arike Ogunbowale stepped up and knocked down a game-tying 3-point shot to force overtime.
Ogunbowale willed the Wings to a 108-100 overtime win over the Valkyries on Wednesday, Sept. 30, recording a career-high 45 points in 42 minutes, which sets a WNBA record for the most points scored in a playoff game. The Wings needed every last point to force a winner-take-all Game 3 against the Valkyries on Friday. Read more.
Valkyries arrivals
07:27 PM ET, October 2 2026, Heather BurnsValks on site. Ballhalla, it's GAMEDAY 🗣️@Rakuten | Arrivals pic.twitter.com/4VOZyQsqGW
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) October 2, 2026
See you soon, Valks Fam ⚔️@Rakuten | Arrivals pic.twitter.com/RSCqDBWHsT
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) October 2, 2026
Golden State Valkyries vs Dallas Wings schedule
06:01 AM ET, October 2 2026- Sunday, Sept. 27: Game 1: Valkyries 104, Wings 80
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Game 2: Wings 108, Valkyries 100
- Friday, Oct. 2: Game 3 | 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Golden State Valkyries vs Dallas Wings betting odds
BetMGM has set the line favoring the Valkyries, with Golden State as 8.5-point favorites. The over-under for the total score is 158.5 points. The over has hit in each of the first two games.
WNBA playoffs: What time is Wings vs Valkyries?
06:01 AM ET, October 2 2026In Game 3 of the first-round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs, the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries face the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
- Date: Friday, Oct. 2
- Time: 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT)
- Location: Chase Center (San Francisco)
What TV channel is Wings vs Valkyries on today?
Game 3 of the first-round matchup between the Wings and Valkyries on Friday, Oct. 2, will be broadcast on ESPN2. Streaming options are available on services like Disney+.
- Channel: ESPN2
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Golden State Valkyries vs Dallas Wings WNBA playoffs LIVE: Highlights, score
