The Golden State Valkyries became the quickest expansion team in WNBA history to reach the Finals, sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces with an 87-77 overtime victory on Friday. Now in their second season, the Valkyries will hold home-court advantage against the Atlanta Dream beginning October 17 at Chase Center. The Valkyries’ rapid ascension follows a mandate from owner Joe Lacob, who tasked General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and coach Natalie Nakase with building a championship contender within five years—a challenge that once seemed implausible.
Overtime Dominance Seals Series Sweep
While the Aces led by six points late in regulation, a defensive stand changed the game’s momentum. Gabby Williams stole the ball from A’ja Wilson, setting up a transition layup by Kayla Thornton that tied the score at 69-69 with 1:50 remaining. After Veronica Burton hit a 9-foot floater to take the lead, Chelsea Gray found Jackie Young for a game-tying basket with 27 seconds left to force the extra period.
Once in overtime, the Valkyries remained perfect from the free-throw line, going 8-for-8 to close out the series. Thornton, the team’s lone 2025 All-Star, led the scoring effort with 18 points and secured nine rebounds. Williams added 16 points, eight of which came during the overtime stretch. Tiffany Hayes, who eclipsed 500 career playoff points, proved instrumental alongside Kiah Stokes, who was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field.
A’ja Wilson and the Aces’ Title Defense Ends
A’ja Wilson finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds but shot just 6-for-19 from the field. With this performance, Wilson joined DeWanna Bonner as the only players in league history to record 1,300 points and 600 rebounds in the postseason. The Valkyries join the New York Liberty as the only teams to defeat Las Vegas during a four-year span in which the Aces won three championships.
Building a Dynasty Ahead of Schedule
When Lacob purchased the Warriors in 2010, he issued a similar five-year championship mandate, a goal the organization eventually achieved. The Valkyries are now four wins away from fulfilling that same target in less than half the time the Warriors required. The franchise has shown significant growth since its 2025 debut, when the team made the playoffs but suffered a first-round exit against the Minnesota Lynx. By assembling a deep roster that shattered early expectations, the front office has successfully vaulted the team to the top of the WNBA in only their second year of existence.
Finals Matchup Against the Atlanta Dream
The Dream’s victory over New York, combined with the Valkyries’ sweep, highlights a trend where teams leading 2-0 in a series are now 22-0 in playoff history. Golden State enters the best-of-seven series with home-court advantage at the venue they have dubbed “Ballhalla.” The two teams met three times in the regular season between June 24 and July 4, with the Valkyries winning all three matchups. Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 12:30 p.m. PT.
