The Golden State Valkyries opened the 2026 WNBA Playoffs with a dominant 104-80 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday night at Chase Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first-round series. The game was competitive early, with Golden State holding only a 21-20 advantage after the opening quarter, but the Valkyries completely took control in the second quarter. Golden State erupted for 37 points while holding Dallas to just 11, turning a one-point game into a 58-31 halftime lead. The 37-point quarter established a new WNBA postseason record for points in a second quarter.
Cecilia Zandalasini led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range. She scored 12 points during Golden State's explosive second quarter and finished with a postseason career high. Tiffany Hayes added 21 points off the bench while shooting a perfect 4-for-4 from three, and Gabby Williams finished with 20 points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal. Golden State also received double-digit scoring from multiple players while committing only four turnovers, helping fuel one of the most explosive offensive performances in franchise history.
Paige Bueckers was the bright spot for Dallas in her first WNBA playoff appearance. The Wings guard finished with 21 points, six rebounds and two assists while shooting an outstanding 9-for-10 from the field. Bueckers scored 17 points in the first half and shot 7-for-8 before halftime, setting a new Wings franchise record for points in a postseason debut half. Her 90% shooting performance was also the third-highest field-goal percentage in WNBA postseason history for a player making at least nine field goals. Maddy Siegrist and Kitija Laksa each scored 11 points, while Arike Ogunbowale added 10.
The biggest difference came from beyond the arc, where Golden State made 18 three-pointers compared with six for Dallas. The Valkyries shot 50% from three-point range and finished with their highest-scoring game in franchise history, while Dallas shot 46.7% overall but could not overcome the massive second-quarter deficit. Golden State also won the second-chance battle 10-3 and its bench outscored Dallas' bench 40-36, although all 36 of Dallas' bench points came in the second half. The Wings now return home for Game 2 on Wednesday, September 30, needing a victory to extend the series.
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