09/27/26 10:17:00
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09/27 22:15 CDT Zandalasini's scores 22, leads Valkyries past Wings 104-80 in
Game 1 of first- round playoff series
Zandalasini's scores 22, leads Valkyries past Wings 104-80 in Game 1 of first-
round playoff series
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- Cecilia Zandalasini scored 22 points, Gabby Williams
added 20, and the second-seeded Golden State Valkyries ran away from the Dallas
Wings by halftime for a 104-80 win in the teams' playoff opener Sunday night.
Paige Bueckers had 21 points and six rebounds for Dallas, which won seven of
eight to end the season to earn the seventh seed and will now try to stave off
elimination at home.
Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Dallas and, if necessary,
Game 3 would be Friday back at Chase Center in front of the raucous,
violet-clad sellout home crowd in "Ballhalla."
"Ballhalla's part of us," coach Natalie Nakase said of the fans.
Tiffany Hayes had 21 points off the bench as the second-year Valkyries scored
their most points ever, and Veronica Burton contributed 10 points. Zandalasini
shot 7 for 11 with four 3-pointers.
The Valkyries outscored Dallas 37-11 in the second quarter and went 10 for 20
from 3-point range in the first half on the way to a 58-31 advantage at the
break. The Valkyries shot 18 for 36 on 3-pointers in the game.
This marked Golden State's first true home playoff game after losing to the
Minnesota Lynx by one point last year 50 miles away at the NHL San Jose Sharks'
home, SAP Center. The Laver Cup tennis showcase had booked Chase Center before
the Bay Area had even been granted an expansion team.
In 2025, the Valkyries made history becoming the first expansion organization
to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Bueckers made 7 of 8 first-half shots and scored 17 by halftime but she didn't
have much help. Dallas went just 6 for 20 from deep.
"When we're awake we're ferocious on defense," Nakase said.
Kayla Thornton's 3-pointer at the 7:23 mark of the second quarter put Golden
State ahead 32-24 and she pumped her arm as the Wings called timeout. Thornton
had 10 points.
The Valkyries won seven of eight to finish the regular season and have now
beaten Dallas in all four 2026 meetings.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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