The Golden State Valkyries reached the WNBA Finals faster than any expansion team in league history, sweeping the defending champion Las Vegas Aces with an 87-77 overtime win in Game 3 at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Friday night.
Then a steal sparked a 17-0 third-quarter run, and Golden State held the Aces scoreless for more than seven minutes while forcing 12 straight misses.
A 16-6 overtime closes the champions
Las Vegas led by six late before Gabby Williams stole the ball from A'ja Wilson and found Kayla Thornton for a transition layup to tie the game at 69. Regulation ended level after a wild final minute, but the Valkyries took control in the extra period.
Golden State outscored the Aces 16-6 in overtime, making all eight free throws. Williams hit a step-back jumper with 54.7 seconds left that ended the Aces' title defense, and she finished with 16 points, eight of them in overtime.
Dethroning a dynasty in year two
Las Vegas had won three of the past four championships, and Golden State joins the New York Liberty as the only teams to beat them in that span. Wilson, honored before the game for a record fifth MVP award, scored 21 points on 6-for-19 shooting.
The previous mark for fastest expansion team to the Finals belonged to the Atlanta Dream, who did it in their third year. "It feels special because this is a special group," Williams told reporters afterwards. "We know we weren't a team that was talked about, but just the culture and going to work every day, we felt that we had something worth fighting for."
The Valkyries will host the Dream in Game 1 of the Finals on October 17, with both franchises seeking a first championship.
