Fresh off their first playoff series win in franchise history, the No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries continue their 2026 WNBA postseason journey, hosting the defending champion Las Vegas Aces for Game 1 of the Semifinals on Sunday (1 p.m. PT; NBC/Peacock). The Aces finished one game behind the Valkyries in the regular-season standings but won all three head-to-head matchups. The Valkyries and Aces’ first-round series both went the distance, as Golden State outlasted the Dallas Wings 2-1 with a 16-point comeback win, and Las Vegas knocked off the Indiana Fever 2-1 behind another dominant performance from A’ja Wilson. Wilson is the reigning WNBA MVP, an award she’s won four times in her career, and is the Associated Press’ pick to capture a fifth this season. Wilson led the WNBA in scoring during the regular season, averaging 26.2 points, and leads the playoffs through the first round with 32.0 points per contest. She has led the Aces to three WNBA championships in the last four years, most recently sweeping the Phoenix Mercury for the 2025 title. The Valkyries have two key members of their organization who contributed to those Aces championships: starting center Kiah Stokes was Wilson’s backup during all three title runs, and Head Coach Natalie Nakase was an assistant with the Aces for two titles before becoming the WNBA Coach of the Year in 2025. 

The second round of the WNBA playoffs is a best-of-five series, with Game 4, if necessary, in Las Vegas on Oct. 11 and Game 5, if necessary, at Chase Center on Oct. 14. 

Valkyries vs. Aces
Sunday, Oct. 4 | Tipoff: 1 p.m.
WATCH: NBC/Peacock
LISTEN: 95.7 The Game, ESPN 1320, The Audacy App
BUY TICKETS

SEMIFINALS SCHEDULE
Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 4 | 1 p.m. | Chase Center | NBC, Peacock
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 7 | 6:30 p.m. | Chase Center | NBCSN, Peacock
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 9 | 6:30 p.m. | Michelob ULTRA Arena | NBCSN, Peacock
*Game 4: Sunday, Oct. 11 | TBD | Michelob ULTRA Arena | NBC, Peacock
*Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 14 | TBD | Chase Center | NBCSN, Peacock
*If Necessary

THREE KEYS: 
WNBA’S SCORING CHAMP VS. TOP-RANKED DEFENSE:
A’ja Wilson is the 2026 WNBA scoring champion, an accolade she’s achieved three times in her illustrious career. Wilson is a dominant post scorer and also had her most efficient volume 3-point shooting year, shooting 40.4% from deep on 2.3 attempts per game. She is one of three 20-point scorers this season who shot over 50% from the field and 40% from three during the regular season. Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers, who the Valkyries faced in the first round, joined Wilson in that group, but Golden State held her over 10 field goal percentage points below her average in their playoff series. The Valkyries led the WNBA in defensive rating in the regular season and have consistently made it more difficult for opposing stars to get to their spots. However, two of their best defenders — Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton — play on the perimeter, meaning post players present a unique challenge. Wilson averaged 25 points and 12.7 rebounds on 61.7 TS% against the Valkyries this season. Her primary defender was her former teammate Kiah Stokes, who finished second in the WNBA in blocks. Containing Wilson will be the Valkyries' top priority. 

CLUTCH TIME CREATORS:
Down the stretch in high-stakes playoff games, having go-to offensive creators to make a play for themselves or their teammates is essential. The Valkyries experienced that firsthand in the final two games of their first-round series: Arike Ogunbowale’s overtime shot-making willed the Wings to victory in Game 2, and Gabby Williams closed the series for Golden State in Game 3, scoring 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half. Williams has relished the opportunity to be the Valkyries’ go-to option late in games, a role she said she hasn’t been trusted with before in her WNBA career, despite her success doing so in college and in international play. The Aces have a couple of closers besides A’ja Wilson, including Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young. Both players are skilled ball handlers and shot creators who thrive in isolation. Gray, a six-time All-Star, is the winningest active player in the WNBA, with four championship rings, and Young, a five-time All-Star, has been part of all three of the Aces' titles. 

FAMILIAR FACES FROM THE ACES:
Head Coach Natalie Nakase, center Kiah Stokes, and guard Tiffany Hayes were all members of the Las Vegas Aces before joining the Valkyries. Nakase and Stokes won championships with the franchise, and Hayes won the Sixth Player of the Year award in her lone season in Vegas. The Aces’ top three players and Head Coach Becky Hammon remain from when these Valkyries were on the team, so Golden State will try to lean on its intel on how they operate and use it to its advantage. 

All information on the 2026 WNBA Playoffs can be found here.