Date, Time, Location: Thursday, September 11th, 5:00pm PDT, Target Center (Minneapolis)
Broadcast Information: KPIX (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento area), FanDuel Sports Network – North (opposition local market), WNBA League Pass (outside local markets), Audacy (radio), multiple affiliates (opposition’s local markets radio)
The Golden State Valkyries finish the regular season on Thursday with a game against the Minnesota Lynx. The result will determine whether the team stays there to start the playoffs on Sunday or will need to wait until one last game is played to find out their next destination. Their opponents are locked into the top seed, but whether they win the game also impacts who they will face and where other teams are placed in the bracket. With the teams meeting for the second time in less than a week, there will be plenty of familiarity between the teams now.
The Valkyries
There is no player news to report for the Valkyries for this game so they will be in the same situation as the last game, playing for a big win. Cecilia Zandalasini was rusty in her return and did not get the chance to play in the second half with the game in the balance so the hope will be that she has had more time to get in a rhythm for this encounter with her former team.
If Golden State wins, they will grab the 6 seed in the playoffs and then need to wait to find out if they will face Las Vegas, which would need to lose to Los Angeles, or head to Atlanta. Indiana would face the other team as the 7 seed and Minnesota would draw Seattle as the 8 seed. If they lose, that sets up an immediate rematch with Minnesota as the 8 seed, which would leave Indiana as the 6 seed and Seattle as the 7 seed.
The Opposition
After the last game against the Valkyries, the Lynx visited the Indiana Fever and fell behind early, recovering a bit, but still losing, a result that prevented Golden State from already sealing the 6 seed before their own game. Napheesa Collier was rested for that game, but is expected to return for this game. DiJonai Carrington continues to be out due to injury though, leaving them a player short in the rotation, but Alanna Smith will face the Valkyries after resting previously, giving them the chance to run taller lineups. They certainly will not voice an opinion, but it is clear based on recent choices that their preference would be to face Golden State in the playoffs over Seattle so the expectation should be another effort to win this game.
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