The Golden State Valkyries hosted the Dallas Wings again on Friday with their season on the line as both teams looked to advance to the semifinals. Dallas was able to find success on offense again after exploding in their home game and the Valkyries were not matching them early. Golden State did take the lead in the second quarter only for the Wings to go on a big run surrounding halftime to cast some doubts on the chances of finding a way to win. The Valkyries kept pushing back with the crowd roaring them on again and again, making big plays on offense and getting the stops that they needed to take the lead late and win 77-73.
The Lineup
There was no surprise player news as Awak Kuier was able to return for Dallas, leaving both teams with the same starting lineups as the last game. There were adjustments on both sides based on what had happened in the previous game with minutes ratcheting up for key players in an elimination game for both teams. Golden State played Kiah Stokes for almost the entire game, leaving them with relatively few smallball minutes to match the height of the Wings in the post, although they played more with Kaila Charles as the other forward. Both teams also made major defensive adjustments to try to counter opposing stars.
First Quarter
Both teams had some misses early with so much at stake in the game, but Dallas opened the scoring with a three-point play. Kiah Stokes was allowed to roll to the rim uncontested and made the layup to get the Valkyries on the board. Golden State defended with some zone principles and the help defense was caught in the lane too long to give the Wings another free throw early. Gabby Williams scored next with a steal and layup, but Dallas found success on offense again with four consecutive baskets before the media timeout when the Valkyries could only manage a single basket from Cecilia’s turnaround jumper out of the post.
The stoppage allowed the Valkyries to make more substitutions and Tiffany Hayes made an immediate impact again with a pair of layups around another Wings basket. Janelle Salaun made the first three-pointer for Golden State only for Dallas to also get contributions from their bench. Hayes split a pair of free throws before the Wings scored last for a 19-14 lead.
Second Quarter
Kaila Charles was completely open in the corner on the first possession of the corner and knocked down the three-pointer, but Dallas answered it immediately. They got a layup and free throws too before Veronica Burton made her first basket to prevent the lead from getting out of hand early. There was a stoppage for a replay review after Cecilia Zandalasini was fouled beyond the arc. It ended up being upgraded to a flagrant foul and she made all three free throws.
The Valkyries missed a chance to get closer as the Wings score before Kiah Stokes was able to find space for a layup after the defense converged on a driver. Burton’s three-point play briefly made it a one-point game before Dallas made a three-pointer. Tiffany Hayes answered herself from distance and her three-point play gave them the lead. Dallas tied the score, but more successful drives leading to a Burton layup and Hayes free throws had Golden State feeling like they were ready to seize the advantage. The Wings scored the last nine points of the quarter though to lead 44-37 as nothing went right for the Valkyries, including missed free throws.
Third Quarter
The run from the first half stretched to 18-0 for Dallas as the first Valkyries timeout did nothing to stem the tide. After their second timeout, Veronica Burton’s three-pointer gave them some life before two more Wings free throws. They got closer with a layup from Tiffany Hayes, a Gabby Williams three-pointer, and a short Burton jumpshot as the offense continued to try to find their spots to attack Dallas’s defense. The Wings made a pair of free throws before another Golden State spurt as Kiah Stokes tipped in a missed shot, Kaila Charles made two free throws, and Williams made another three-pointer. Dallas made it a two-possession game again right at the end of the quarter with a basket for a 59-54 edge.
Fourth Quarter
Dallas scored first in this quarter, but the Valkyries got closer with a Tiffany Hayes three-pointer and a Veronica Burton layup that led to an early timeout. The Wings scored again only for it to become a one-point game after Gabby Williams was able to get free for a three-pointer again. Dallas responded as the Valkyries were able to tie the score with another long-distance make after a tough shooting first half, this time coming from Kaila Charles. The middle of the quarter bogged down with both teams competing for every loose ball that included a successful Valkyries challenge after the officials were unsure which team last touched it on a jumpball.
Golden State was finally able to take the lead on a Burton layup, but Dallas made a three-pointer after a timeout and then added two more free throws and a layup. The Valkyries took the timeout next and went on a run that started with a timely Charles putback. Gabby Williams went to work next with a layup and then a rare opportunity to set up one of her mid-range jumpers off of the dribble giving them the lead. Her next big play was the result of great awareness on her part as managed to fully establish herself in-bounds before grabbing a rebound, something that took the last Valkyries challenge to get the officials to make the correct call. She made the two free throws once play resumed as Dallas needed to extend the game. Golden State did something different from the last game and committed the foul up three to send the Wings to the free throw line. They split the pair and Williams iced the game with two more free throws for a 77-73 final margin.
Player of the Game
This was a game where different players had to step up at different times to secure the win and Gabby Williams will get the award for her big plays late. After her start to the series, Dallas focused on stopping her, making major adjustments on defense to put her in difficult matchups early. The Valkyries continued to find ways to attack the defense and she was able to make a couple of big three-pointers late in the third quarter to play a big part in the comeback. She had an even bigger fourth quarter, getting the two baskets that got the lead back before more big plays in the final minute as she scored the last eight points for the team.
The Verdict
There were times when it looked like the team would not be able to come back from the deficit after continued to be in the groove that they had found in the last game. The Valkyries were able to get the win at home and advance to the semifinals for the first time. It was a tough game that required key players to play heavy minutes for a second straight game, which will make it hard with the quick turnaround for a game on Sunday afternoon. The big win could give them significant momentum though, which would be a great help in a tough matchup against a Las Vegas team that they have yet to defeat this season.
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