STWF Sports| SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.| October 2, 2026 — The Dallas Wings will put their season on the line Friday night when they return to Chase Center for a decisive Game 3 against the Golden State Valkyries in the opening round of the WNBA Playoffs.
Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2, with Ryan Ruocco on play-by-play, Rebecca Lobo serving as analyst and Angel Gray reporting from the sideline.
The best-of-three series is tied 1-1 after Dallas answered a Game 1 loss with a dramatic 108-100 overtime victory Wednesday night at a sold-out College Park Center.
Now, the Wings will need to do something they have never done before: win a playoff Game 3.
Ogunbowale Sets the Tone
Dallas forced the series back to San Francisco behind a historic performance from Arike Ogunbowale, who scored a WNBA playoff-record 45 points in Game 2.
Ogunbowale also finished with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, but the defining moment came in the closing seconds of regulation. With Dallas trailing by three, she buried a game-tying three-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining to force overtime.
She then scored 11 points in the extra period, helping the Wings outscore Golden State 15-7 to keep their postseason run alive.
Veteran forward Alysha Clark also delivered one of her best postseason performances, matching her playoff career high with 21 points in 30 minutes off the bench.
That offensive balance will be critical again Friday, especially in an environment where Dallas has yet to win.
Chase Center Challenge
Dallas Wings Aim for Victory
The Wings are still searching for their first road victory over Golden State at Chase Center.
Dallas has dropped each of its previous meetings in San Francisco dating back to last season, including Game 1 of this series. The Valkyries used a dominant second quarter and strong perimeter shooting to pull away in that opener.
For Dallas, Game 3 will require the same composure it showed Wednesday after falling behind late. The Wings will need to manage Golden State’s defensive pressure, limit extended scoring runs and avoid allowing the Valkyries to dictate the pace.
The margin for error is gone.
History on the Line
Dallas enters the deciding game with an 0-2 all-time record in playoff series Game 3s.
The Wings are also seeking their first victory in a postseason knockout game. According to the team’s supplied playoff history, Dallas is 0-4 in contests where both teams faced elimination.
Those numbers provide another layer to Friday’s matchup.
Since the WNBA restored the best-of-three First Round format in 2022, only three teams have rallied from a 1-0 series deficit to advance. Chicago did it against New York in 2022, while Phoenix and Indiana accomplished the feat in 2025.
Dallas now has a chance to add its name to that list.
One Game for a Semifinal Berth
The winner Friday will advance to the WNBA Semifinals.
For the Wings, it would mark their first semifinal appearance since the 2023 postseason and provide another milestone in a season already defined by significant growth.
Game 2 showed Dallas can respond under pressure.
Game 3 will determine whether that response can travel.
Game: Dallas Wings at Golden State Valkyries
Series: WNBA First Round, Game 3
Date: Friday
Time: 8 p.m. CT
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV: ESPN2
