Golden State Valkyries vs Dallas Wings: Time, TV, stream for WNBA playoffs

Paige Bueckers‘ first WNBA playoffs starts when her Dallas Wings visit the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday, Sept. 27 (9 p.m., USA/CNBC).

Dallas, seeded seventh, has won seven of its last eight regular-season games heading into the postseason. The Wings have grappled with injuries to key players such as Azzi Fudd and Alanna Smith down the stretch of the season, but have played well with Bueckers, Jessica Shepard and Arike Ogunbowale leading the way.

Shepard does it all and is making a strong case to win the league’s Most Improved Player. She leads the WNBA in triple-doubles this season with six, and she’s the only player in the history of the WNBA to average at least 14 points, 11 rebounds and five assists in a single season.

Ball movement is the key to the Wings’ success, as they lead the league in assists and assist-turnover ratio.

Meanwhile, the second-seeded Valkyries are powered by the WNBA’s best defense, leading the league in defensive rating, points allowed and 3-point defense. Coach Natalie Nakase’s team also tops the WNBA in total 3-pointers made this season. Golden State also averages the least amount of turnovers per game with 11.5.

Led by Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, the Valkyries also have a deep bench anchored by veteran Tiffany Hayes.

Golden State is 3-0 against the Wings this season with an average margin of victory of 12.3 points.

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Inside the WNBA playoffs with eight teams in the spotlight

With two days left in the WNBA regular season, the playoff seeding race is, well, complicated. The top eight teams, the Minnesota Lynx, Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Atlanta Dream, Indiana Fever, New York Liberty, Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings, are locked into the postseason. But, with seven games left to be played, seeds 2 through 8 are up for grabs. Yes, the Lynx got the No. 1 seed on Tuesday, Sept. 22. But after losing to the Indiana Fever, 96-77, Minnesota backed in when the Valkyries lost to the Portland Fire later in the evening. Minnesota Lynx (32-11) Locked: No. 1 seed

(Kelley L Cox, Imagn Images)

**Golden State Valkyries (31-12)** Best seed: No. 2 Worst seed: No. 3 The Valkyries were still in the hunt for the top seed heading into Wednesday night, but a 90-82 loss to the Fire means Golden State will have homecourt in the first round but will be either the No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

(John Jones, Imagn Images)

**Las Vegas Aces (30-13)** Best seed: No. 2 Worst seed: No. 3 The Aces took care of business on Tuesday with an 89-79 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks to stay in contention for the No. 2 seed. The defending WNBA champs have won six straight and face the Mercury, the team they beat in the Finals last season, in their last regular-season game on Thursday, Sept. 24.

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

**Atlanta Dream (29-14)** Best seed: No. 4 Worst seed: No. 5 The Dream, who have won eight of their last nine games, play the Liberty in each team’s final game of the regular season Wednesday evening. Atlanta needs to win to claim homecourt for the first round of the playoffs. No. 4 seed: Win or Fever loss No. 5 seed: Loss and Fever win

(Dale Zanine, Imagn Images)

**Washington Mystics (27-16)** Best seed: No. 5 Worst seed: No. 7 The Mystics, who have won six of seven, beat the Fever on Sunday and Sun on Tuesday. While Washington is out of contention for homecourt, it could earn the No. 5 seed by beating the Chicago Sky in the final game of the season on Thursday. Granted, the Mystics would need help. No. 5 seed: Win and Fever loss No. 6 seed: Win and Fever win Loss and Liberty loss No. 7 seed: Loss and Liberty win

(Hannah Foslien, Getty Images)

**Indiana Fever (28-15)** Best seed: No. 4 Worst seed: No. 6 If the Fever want to a chance at the No. 4 seed, they need to do what the did on Tuesday and beat the Minnesota Lynx in their final game of the season on Thursday. Indiana has won four of its last five. No. 4 seed: Win and Dream loss No. 5 seed: Win and Dream win Loss and Mystics loss No. 6 seed: Loss and Mystics win

(Trevor Ruszkowski, Imagn Images)

**Dallas Wings (26-17)** Best seed: No. 7 Worst seed: No. 8 The Wings were the final team to qualify for the playoffs. Dallas had won six in a row before a narrow loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Monday. The Wings play at league cellar dweller Seattle to finish the season on Wednesday. No. 7 seed: Win and Mystics win Liberty loss No. 8 seed: Liberty win and Mystics loss Loss and Liberty win

(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)

**New York Liberty (26-17)** Best seed: No. 6 Worst seed: No. 8 The Liberty lost to the Dream on Monday and if they do so again Wednesday, New York will be locked into the No. 8 seed. Win and they could claim the No. 6 seed, with some help. No. 6 seed: Win and Mystics loss No. 7 seed: Win and Mystics win and Wings loss No. 8 seed: Loss Mystics win and Wings win

(Kamil Krzaczynski, Imagn Images)

Here’s everything you need to know about the opening round best-of-three series:

What time is Valkyries vs Wings?

The No. 2 seed Golden State Valkyries face the No. 7 seed Dallas Wings in the first round of the 2026 WNBA playoffs at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Chase Center in San Francisco.