Two upsets opened the WNBA semifinals. The Golden State Valkyries beat the Las Vegas Aces 71-60, and the Atlanta Dream defeated the New York Liberty 92-82 in Game 1 of their series, ESPN and The Sacramento Bee reported.

Gabby Williams was the star for Golden State, scoring 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting with 11 rebounds and five assists. Kiah Stokes added 14 rebounds and three blocks. The Valkyries crushed the Aces on the glass, out-rebounding them 52-25. Las Vegas, a perennial contender led by A'ja Wilson, never found its shooting touch.

In the other series, the Dream beat the Liberty by 10 points to take the opening game.

The Valkyries' run is remarkable. Golden State joined the league as an expansion team in 2025 and made the playoffs in its first season. Now, in year two, it is three wins from a WNBA title. The team plays home games at Chase Center in San Francisco and has drawn some of the league's biggest crowds.

Some background: The WNBA has grown fast in recent years, with record TV ratings and new teams. Toronto and Portland joined in 2026, and more expansion is planned.

The semifinals are best-of-five series. The WNBA Finals begin Oct. 17, according to ESPN.

Fans can watch playoff games on ESPN, ABC and other league partners, depending on the game. Schedules are posted on WNBA.com.

What we know: Golden State and Atlanta lead their semifinal series 1-0.
What we don't: Whether Las Vegas and New York can bounce back in Game 2.