Valkyries vs. Aces: Game 3 time and U.S. coverage

The Golden State Valkyries face the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, October 9, at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. In the United States, the game will be carried by NBCSN and Peacock, according to the official schedule published by the Valkyries. Because channels and availability vary by territory, viewers outside the U.S. should check their official local options before the game.

Game 3 start time

Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Friday in Las Vegas, in the Pacific time zone. That is 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time and 10:30 p.m. in Brasília. In mainland Spain and France, the game starts at 3:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10.

Those conversions are based on the 6:30 p.m. PT time listed by the Valkyries. Schedules can still change, so viewers should confirm the time through the official link on game day.

How to watch in the United States

The announced U.S. coverage is NBCSN and Peacock. The available sources do not confirm a specific broadcaster or platform for Brazil, Spain or France, so the U.S. offering should not be assumed to apply in those countries.

That distinction also prevents confusion between Game 3 and other dates in the series. A potential Game 4 is scheduled for October 11 in Las Vegas, but its start time remains listed as TBD on the official schedule.

Why Golden State is one win from the Finals

The Valkyries arrive in Las Vegas with a 2–0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal. The official playoff bracket confirms both Golden State’s advantage and the format: three wins are required in the semifinals, while the Finals are best of seven.

The stakes are therefore straightforward. A Golden State win ends the series and sends the Valkyries to the Finals. A Las Vegas win cuts the deficit to 2–1 and forces Game 4, also at the Aces’ arena.

What happened in Game 2

Golden State took its 2–0 lead with an 83–81 victory in San Francisco. According to the official WNBA recap, Veronica Burton made a deep 3-pointer that put the Valkyries ahead with 41 seconds remaining, then added two late free throws. Kiah Stokes blocked Chelsea Gray’s final attempt.

Tiffany Hayes scored 21 points, Gabby Williams had 20 and Kayla Thornton added 16. For the Aces, A’ja Wilson finished with 24 points and seven rebounds. Las Vegas entered the fourth quarter trailing 66–55, rallied and tied the game with just over two minutes left, but could not complete the comeback.

The matchup shaping Game 3

Before the series, Golden State highlighted the meeting between the season’s leading scorer and the league’s top-rated defense. A’ja Wilson averaged 26.2 points during the regular season and produced 25 points and 12.7 rebounds per game against the Valkyries. Golden State led the WNBA in defensive rating.

There is familiarity between the teams as well: head coach Natalie Nakase, Kiah Stokes and Tiffany Hayes all spent time with the Aces before joining the Valkyries. That history will not determine the result, but it adds context to a game in which Golden State gets its first chance to close the series and Las Vegas plays to keep its title defense alive. The Aces’ official website records the opening defeats by 71–60 and 83–81.

The essential details

Valkyries vs. Aces is scheduled for October 9 at 6:30 p.m. PT — 9:30 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. in Brasília — at Michelob ULTRA Arena, with NBCSN and Peacock carrying the game in the United States. Golden State leads 2–0.

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