Golden State Valkyries Beat Dallas Wings 78-70 to Clinch Playoff Berth

On Monday, August 17, 2026, the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings 78–70 at Chase Center in San Francisco, clinching a 2026 WNBA playoff berth in their second franchise season. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 23 points and seven rebounds, and the Valkyries extended their winning streak to six games while improving to 25–9.

Editor’s note: This article draws on game coverage from AP News and WNBA.com reporting, August 17–18, 2026.

Match at a glance

Detail	Information
Date	Monday, August 17, 2026
Venue	Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Final	Valkyries 78, Wings 70
Records	Golden State 25–9; Dallas — (lost 5 of last 6)
Streak	Valkyries 6 straight wins
Playoff impact	Golden State clinches postseason; third team to secure a 2026 berth

Half and flow

Golden State trailed early after a 3-for-13 shooting start while Dallas hit seven of its first 10 shots to take a 15–8 lead. The Valkyries closed the first quarter ahead 20–19 on a buzzer-beating three-pointer from just inside half court by reserve guard Tiffany Hayes.

A 11–0 run to end the first half pushed Golden State to a 44–28 lead at the break. Dallas chipped back in the closing minutes, but the Valkyries held on for the 78–70 final.

How the Valkyries won

Williams leads, bench contributes

Gabby Williams was the offensive anchor with 23 points and seven rebounds. Veronica Burton added 16 points and five assists from the starting lineup.

Off the bench, Tiffany Hayes scored 10 points with two three-pointers, including the dramatic end-of-first-quarter shot. Janelle Salaun also contributed 10 points from the reserves. Golden State shot 12 for 36 from three-point range — a volume that helped offset an uneven opening stretch.

Stokes returns, crowd packs Chase Center

Center Kiah Stokes played 23 minutes in her return from the concussion protocol, having missed Golden State’s home win against Chicago last Wednesday.

Another sellout at Chase Center celebrated the playoff clincher. Among those in attendance were Stephen Curry, his son Canon, and several Golden State Warriors teammates — underscoring the crossover attention the Valkyries have drawn in the Bay Area.

Golden State has won 15 of its last 17 games overall.

Top scorers — Golden State	Pts	Reb	Ast
Gabby Williams	23	7	—
Veronica Burton	16	—	5
Tiffany Hayes	10	—	—
Janelle Salaun	10	—	—

Wings fight back but fall short

Paige Bueckers scored 21 points and fueled a late push that trimmed the deficit, but Dallas could not complete the comeback. Arike Ogunbowale added 17 points, and Alanna Smith had 13 points and five rebounds.

The Wings have now lost five of their last six games — a slide that contrasts sharply with Golden State’s surge.

Top scorers — Dallas	Pts	Reb	Ast
Paige Bueckers	21	—	—
Arike Ogunbowale	17	—	—
Alanna Smith	13	5	—

Playoff picture and franchise context

Golden State became the third team to lock in a 2026 postseason spot, joining the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces.

For a franchise only two years old, the clincher marks a rapid continuation of last year’s breakthrough. The Valkyries became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural 2025 season, then lost to top-seeded Minnesota by one point in Game 2 of their first-round series.

This season’s 25–9 record already exceeds last year’s win total by two games — with regular-season games still remaining.

What’s next

Team	Next game
Golden State Valkyries	Host Minnesota Lynx, Wednesday night
Dallas Wings	Host Indiana Fever, Thursday night

Wednesday’s rematch against Minnesota looms as an immediate test: the Lynx ended Golden State’s 2025 playoff run at Chase Center, and the Valkyries will face them again with postseason positioning still in play.

---

Discussion

Golden State’s second-year playoff clinch raises questions about how far an expansion franchise can climb — and what Dallas must fix to stop its slide.

1. The Valkyries reached the playoffs in Year 1 and clinched again in Year 2 while topping last season’s win total. Is this sustainable dominance for a new franchise, or will Minnesota and Las Vegas still define the West ceiling?

2. Paige Bueckers scored 21 and Dallas mounted a late rally, yet the Wings have lost five of six. Is this a roster depth issue, or a sign that Bueckers’ individual growth hasn’t yet translated into consistent team wins?

3. Golden State hosts Minnesota on Wednesday — the same Lynx team that ended its 2025 playoff run by one point at Chase Center. Does home court and a six-game win streak change the matchup, or does last year’s heartbreak still hang over this series?

Where do you rank the Valkyries in the West, and does this clincher change your playoff outlook?

---