Down 16, the Valkyries refused to fold — and made franchise history

Gabby Williams waited until her team needed her most — 17 of her 19 points came after halftime, including a go-ahead jumper with 1:17 left — as the second-year Golden State Valkyries erased a 16-point deficit to beat the Dallas Wings 77-73 in a winner-take-all Game 3. On the sideline, coach Natalie Nakase collapsed to her knees in the final minute, was helped up, kept coaching, and still won the late replay challenge that sealed it. The franchise that became the first expansion team ever to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season now has its first series win.