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Golden State beat Dallas 77–73 in the deciding Game 3 of their first-round playoff series, recovering from a 16-point deficit to advance. Gabby Williams scored 19 points and hit the go-ahead 17-footer with 1:17 left. The comeback supports columnist Kurtenbach’s argument that grit carried the Valkyries through a difficult night—but whether that approach can hold up against the Las Vegas Aces is a tougher question.
How the Valkyries escaped a 16-point hole
The Associated Press recap hosted by the WNBA records the decisive facts: Golden State won 77–73, erased a 16-point deficit and took the series in Game 3. Williams led the way with 19 points, including a 17-foot shot that put the Valkyries ahead with 1:17 remaining. A late replay review also went Golden State’s way. Read the AP recap on the WNBA site.
Kurtenbach’s account gives the comeback its texture. He describes a prolonged scoring drought, followed by a 14–0 run, and a late stretch in which Golden State had to defend a narrow lead. Williams also came up with an important inbounds rebound and made four free throws, according to the reproduced commentary. That account mentions five jump balls and the coach collapsing on the sideline; those details belong to the column’s narrative, rather than independently confirmed box-score facts. Read the reproduced Kurtenbach commentary.
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Kurtenbach’s “grit is the winning formula” framing describes how Golden State survived this particular game: defensive pressure, rebounds, persistence through a scoring drought and composure late. The comeback is strong evidence that those qualities mattered in the moment. It does not establish grit as a general winning formula, or show that effort alone caused the result.
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The column’s concern is that Golden State’s half-court offense struggled when it needed dependable scoring. Defense and effort plays can keep a team in a game, but against a new opponent they may not be enough if the offense cannot generate reliable looks as the clock runs down. That is Kurtenbach’s analysis of the challenge ahead, not a measured forecast of the series result.
Why Las Vegas is a different kind of test
The Valkyries advance to the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces. The WNBA’s 2026 playoff format makes the first round best-of-three and the semifinals best-of-five. A longer series puts a premium on sustaining performance and adjusting across games, rather than relying on a single comeback. The format establishes the series length; it does not settle whether Golden State’s defense will be enough or how the Aces will fare.
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The central question is whether the Valkyries can pair the intensity that helped them beat Dallas with more dependable half-court scoring. Kurtenbach’s warning is about that balance: defense and effort may carry a team through a tight night, but the next opponent makes offensive consistency a more urgent test. See the WNBA’s 2026 playoff format.
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