The second-seeded Golden State Valkyries officially tip off their 2026 WNBA postseason run on Sunday, Sept. 27, welcoming the seventh-seeded Dallas Wings to the Chase Center in San Francisco. The best-of-three first-round series opener begins at 6 p.m. PT (9 p.m. ET) and will be broadcast live on USA Network and CNBC.
Golden State finished the regular season near the top of the 15-team WNBA standings with a strong second-place finish, securing a playoff berth for the second consecutive year in only the franchise’s second season of existence. The Valkyries swept their three-game regular-season series against Dallas by an average margin of 12.3 points per game, capped off by a 78-70 victory on Aug. 18 where Gabby Williams scored 23 points and Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 21.
Entering the postseason, the Valkyries boast elite defensive numbers, leading the league in defensive rating (99.1), points allowed, and 3-point defense. Head coach Natalie Nakase’s squad also ranks first in the WNBA for protecting the basketball, committing a league-low 11.5 turnovers per game. On offense, Golden State averages 19.3 assists per contest, anchored by guard Veronica Burton, who puts up 12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game while leading the league in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Dallas enters the matchup having won seven of its final eight regular-season games, powered by rookie standout Paige Bueckers, high-impact free agent addition Jessica Shepard, and veteran scorer Arike Ogunbowale. Shepard made her first career All-Star team this season and is a leading candidate for the Most Improved Player award, averaging at least 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists per game.
Series Schedule and Format
The first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs follows a 1-1-1 format. Below is the schedule for the series:
- Game 1: Sunday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET (Chase Center, San Francisco) – Broadcast on USA Network/CNBC Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET (Thrive City, San Francisco) – Broadcast on ESPN Game 3 (if necessary): Friday, Oct. 2 – Time and location TBD
Fans attending Game 1 at Chase Center will receive a violet t-shirt courtesy of Chase Freedom, alongside a halftime musical performance by Bay Area rapper Too $hort. For Game 2, supporters are invited to gather at Pier 48 for the inaugural “March to Ballhalla” before heading to Thrive City for the official watch party presented by Kaiser Permanente.
