STWF Sports| SAN FRANCISCO| September 27, 2026 — The Dallas Wings begin their 2026 postseason run Sunday night with a challenging road test against the Golden State Valkyries in Game 1 of a best-of-three first-round series at Chase Center.
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, with national coverage on USA Network and CNBC. The seventh-seeded Wings enter the playoffs at 27-17, while second-seeded Golden State finished the regular season at 32-12.
The matchup marks the first postseason meeting between the two franchises.
Golden State controlled the regular-season series, sweeping all three meetings in 2026 and improving to 6-1 all-time against Dallas. The Wings’ most recent win over the Valkyries came on June 17, 2025.
That history creates a clear challenge for Dallas, but the Wings enter the postseason with confidence after completing one of the most dramatic turnarounds in league history.
Dallas Returns to the Playoffs
Challenges Ahead for the Dallas Wings
The Wings are making their first postseason appearance since 2023, when they swept the Atlanta Dream in the opening round.
Since the WNBA returned to the best-of-three first-round format in 2022, Dallas is 1-1 in opening-round series play.
This year’s team arrives with a mix of veteran playoff experience and first-time postseason contributors. The Wings’ roster has combined for 137 career playoff appearances, led by Odyssey Sims with 42 and Alysha Clark with 37.
At the same time, Paige Bueckers, Aziaha James and Li Yueru are all set to make their WNBA postseason debuts.
That blend of experience and youth will be important against a Golden State team that earned home-court advantage behind one of the league’s strongest regular seasons.
Home-Court Strength Will Be Tested
Golden State and Dallas finished with the WNBA’s top two home records during the regular season.
The Valkyries went 17-5 at Chase Center, while the Wings posted a 16-6 record at home.
That places added importance on Game 1.
Dallas will be looking for its first road victory at Chase Center, and taking the opener would immediately shift pressure back toward Golden State before the series moves to Arlington.
To do that, the Wings will need to play with the same offensive efficiency that helped define their regular season.
Dallas set franchise records in total wins, winning percentage, points per game, assists per game, assist-to-turnover ratio, field-goal percentage and total three-pointers made.
Those numbers reflect the offensive growth the team experienced under first-year head coach Jose Fernandez.
Historic Turnaround Meets Postseason Pressure
The Wings improved by 17 wins from 2025, setting a WNBA record for the best single-season turnaround.
Fernandez also established the league mark for the largest improvement by a first-year head coach.
That regular-season success now faces a postseason test against a team that has already beaten Dallas three times this year.
Golden State’s ability to defend home court and limit Dallas during the regular season will give the Valkyries confidence, while the Wings will be looking to prove that their late-season growth has changed the matchup.
For Dallas, the key will be maintaining ball movement, controlling turnovers and getting balanced scoring around Bueckers and the veteran core.
The Wings do not need to erase the regular-season results. They only need to win two games now.
That opportunity begins Sunday night in San Francisco.
Game: Dallas Wings at Golden State Valkyries
Series: WNBA First Round, Game 1
Date: Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026
Time: 8 p.m. CT
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: USA Network / CNBC
