Wings and Valkyries Head to Game 3 of WNBA Playoffs

The WNBA playoff series between the Dallas Wings and the Golden State Valkyries will be decided in Game 3 on Friday night at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The No. 7 seed Wings forced the deciding game after an overtime victory in Game 2, which followed an overtime classic to open the series. The No. 2 seed Valkyries had initially taken the series lead.

Oddsmakers have set the Valkyries as 8.5-point favorites for Game 3, with an Over/Under total of 158.5 points. The betting spread represents the largest of the series.

Arike Ogunbowale of the Wings forced overtime in Game 2 with a late three-pointer. She was responsible for 18 of her team's 37 free throw attempts in that game, a notable increase from the team's season average. The Wings shot 52 percent from beyond the arc in Game 2.

Despite the Wings' recent success in extending the series, the short turnaround between games is expected to be a factor. The Wings played Game 2 just one day before Game 3, whereas they had two days off between Games 1 and 2. This quick turnaround after an emotionally charged overtime contest could disproportionately affect the road team, the Wings.

Golden State finished the regular season as the league's top home team, while Dallas had a .500 record on the road. The Valkyries also boast the league's leading defense, which is anticipated to make Game 3 a low-scoring affair.

Given the short rest and the defensive strengths of the Valkyries, the prediction leans towards an Under on the 158.5 total points. This prediction is supported by season trends where games with only one day of rest saw the Under hit at a 12-7 clip for Golden State and 13-8 for Dallas.