Paige Bueckers expects Golden State defenders Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton to make scoring difficult when Dallas meets the Valkyries in the first round of the 2026 playoffs. The Wings lost all three meetings this season, and Bueckers averaged 17.6 points in them.
Across 42 games, Bueckers averaged 20.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists. In three games against Golden State, she shot 44.2% from the field and 28.6% from three, below her season rates of 51.2% and 41.0%, respectively.
The Valkyries had a league-leading defensive rating of 99.1. Williams averaged 14.4 points and was the team’s leading scorer; she led the WNBA in steals in 2025. Burton, the 2025 Most Improved Player, averaged a career-high 1.6 steals this season.
