The Golden State Valkyries had plenty to celebrate after completing a sweep of the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA semifinals, but an incident in the stands has since taken some of the spotlight away from their historic playoff run. As footage from Game 3 continues to circulate online, an alleged mistreatment of Gabby Williams’ sister has sparked heavy backlash, as an eyewitness shared a clip that captures her reaction to the incident.

During Friday’s matchup at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Aces’ mascot, BUCKET$, found itself at the center of an unexpected controversy. The team’s black-tailed Mojave Desert jackrabbit mascot was caught on camera performing a segment called “Unlucky Row,” in which buttered popcorn was dumped over spectators seated in the lower bowl’s Travelhalla section. What was seemingly intended as a lighthearted moment for the home crowd quickly drew criticism, particularly after reports emerged that the stunt had affected members of the visiting team’s family section.

Among those reportedly caught in the popcorn shower was Kayla Williams, the sister of Valkyries player Gabby Williams, who was seated in the friends and family section. In a clip shared by @_girltalk on X, Kayla can be seen arguing with an arena management representative following the incident.

The footage has since fueled criticism on social media, with fans questioning the decision to target a section allegedly occupied by visiting players’ families. And many even argued that while mascots are expected to entertain and energize the home crowd, a prank that leaves spectators covered in greasy popcorn risks crossing the line between harmless arena entertainment and disrespectful treatment of fans.

While her sister was caught up in the controversy in the stands, Gabby Williams made sure the Valkyries had the last laugh on the court. The 30-year-old led Golden State to a statement 87-77 overtime win in front of the Aces’ home crowd to complete a semifinal sweep of the defending champions and book their first-ever trip to the WNBA Finals in just their second season.

A’ja Wilson and the Aces entered this game with a do-or-die situation on their hands, as another loss would have meant an end to their 2026 run. And for a while, Las Vegas appeared poised to extend the series after taking control in the first half. But a decisive 17-0 run in the third quarter from Golden State completely flipped the game.

The game ultimately went into overtime as neither team wanted to take their foot off the gas. However, in those final five minutes, the Valkyries completely pulled away with Williams scoring 8 points.

Kayla Thornton led Golden State with 18 points and nine rebounds; Gabby Williams added 16 points. Kiah Stokes also made her presence felt on both ends, finishing with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks as the Valkyries contained A’ja Wilson and limited the Aces’ options offensively.

The victory completed a 3-0 semifinal sweep for Golden State, sending the Valkyries to the WNBA Finals, where they will face the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series. Atlanta also swept its semifinal matchup, eliminating the New York Liberty to reach the Finals for the first time since 2013. So with both teams arriving from an unbeaten postseason semifinal run, their championship showdown promises to be one worth watching.

Yet as the Valkyries prepare for their first-ever WNBA Finals appearance, the controversy surrounding Kayla Williams’ experience at the Aces’ home arena remains an unwelcome subplot to their historic run.

Golden State will now turn its attention to the Atlanta Dream, with Game 1 of the championship series scheduled for October 17. ESPN’s predictors give Gabby Williams and Co. a 62.8% chance of winning the opener, adding to the anticipation surrounding their Finals debut. So after letting their performance do the talking in Las Vegas, the Valkyries will look to carry that momentum into the biggest series in franchise history.