WNBA Picks & Predictions: Valkyries vs. Aces (Friday)
The Golden State Valkyries head to Las Vegas to face the Aces on Friday, October 9, in Game 3 of the 2026 WNBA semifinals. With Golden State leading the series 2-0, the Valkyries have a chance to secure a WNBA Finals berth, while the Aces look to keep their season alive on their home court. Read on for our Golden State Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces betting analysis, including the best WNBA picks and predictions for this pivotal playoff matchup.
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Friday’s Best WNBA Picks & Predictions: Valkyries vs. Aces
There are two massive Game 3s in the WNBA on Friday night. Both Atlanta and Golden State will look to close out their semifinal matchups and advance to the WNBA Finals. However, New York and Las Vegas have been here before and have the type of championship mettle to make things tight. Let's take a look at both matchups for our best WNBA picks for Friday, October 9th’s game GAME.
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Golden State Valkyries at Las Vegas Aces Picks
The Valkyries have cranked up the league's best defense on the Aces and now sit just one win away from a trip to the WNBA Finals in only their second season as a franchise. In the way is a championship-tested and reigning title-defending Las Vegas team. The Aces are coming off A'ja Wilson being named MVP for a third straight season and will be playing in front of a raucous home crowd.
The Aces have been money at home in the postseason. They played the Fever twice in the first round and dominated both instances with double-digit victories. If they want to recapture that luck in Game 3, they'll have to find the offense that helped them succeed against Golden State earlier in the season.
Las Vegas had three wins against the Valkyries during the regular season. In those games, they averaged 89 points per game - 14 points more than Golden State allowed. In a must-win game, the Aces will look to break through this vaunted Valkyries defense and put up a crooked offensive number, as they did during the regular season and in the previous series at home. They should bounce back big time and extend the series in a high-scoring affair.
Pick: Aces -3.5 (-118) & Over 156.6 Points (-112)
Golden State Valkyries at Las Vegas Aces Player Props
Nothing too complicated on this selection. The now five-time MVP is up against the wall and could be swept out of the playoffs if the Aces lose this contest. That can only mean we are about to get the best version of A'ja Wilson. There is a high expectation for Las Vegas to run as many plays as possible for Wilson, and that will no doubt result in many trips to the line.
The hill Las Vegas has to climb will be extremely difficult. If the Aces are to even begin to come back in this series, it will have to start with a few dominant performances from the league's most dominant player. Wilson scored at least 28 points in two out of three regular-season contests against the Valkyries. She has not scored more than 24 in the semifinals. We think that changes tonight.
Tiffany Hayes has been a prominent contributor in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The veteran guard has scored at least 18 points in three out of five games. That would normally seem like an easy over for this evening, given that we only need nine points. However, our issue is with Hayes’ consistency, and we may have a small exploitable trend.
Hayes has alternated good and bad games in the playoffs: 21, 6, 18, 3, 21 points. It appears to be a case of one good game followed by a less successful performance. Hayes did not eclipse seven points over three regular-season games against the Aces. The minutes are also a concern. Hayes’ playing time has fluctuated between 11 and 27 minutes.
Enjoy the game tonight. Good luck with your picks.