The Golden State Valkyries hosted their last regular season game this season on Saturday when they hosted the Minnesota Lynx. Their opponents were already locked into the top seed while the Valkyries still had the entire bottom half of the playoff standings as possible outcomes. Golden State battled hard, getting a lead by halftime and building on it in the second half. Minnesota did not take it easy after falling behind, avoiding a losing streak by going on a run to take the lead and getting the 78-72 win. The Valkyries can no longer move up a spot in the playoff reckoning and now have a big game to seal their current spot.
The Lineup
There was no late player news for the Valkyries, so they continued to use the starting lineup of Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Janelle Salaun, Iliana Rupert, and Temi Fagbenle with Monique Billings coming off of the bench in the post, Carla Leite being the reserve guard, and Kate Martin playing the substitute minutes on the wing. There was news for the Minnesota Lynx though as Alanna Smith was a late scratch, meaning neither she nor DiJonai Carrington were able to play in the area where they played in college and graduated from Stanford. Jessica Shepard entered the lineup as the starting center and the Lynx went all out to win the game, just playing seven players, including no frontcourt bench minutes in the second half.
First Quarter
Kaila Charles scored the first basket of the game and then made a layup to get the lead back again. Janelle Salaun and Veronica Burton were the next two players to make layups for the Valkyries, but the Lynx found some success on offense, taking the lead with a Courtney Williams three-point play. Monique Billings answered with a three-pointer, but Naphessa Collier restored the Minnesota advantage with her second make from beyond the arc. Iliana Rupert responded immediately and then made a pair of free throws, but Natisha Hiedeman, who was the only Lynx player to come off of the bench in the quarter, tied the game with a three-pointer. Kate Martin hit a tough floater for the last score of the period and an 18-16 lead.
Second Quarter
Natisha Hiedeman opened the scoring with a free throw, but the Valkyries extended their lead with a Kaila Charles layup and Janelle Salaun three-pointer. Hiedeman hit two three-pointers, but a Temi Fagbenle basket between them kept the Golden State advantage. Jessica Shepard tied the score before Fagbenle and Charles made layups to take the lead again, but Courtney Williams and Shepard tied the score with baskets only to see Fagbenle score once more. Napheesa Collier tied the score with two free throws, but the Valkyries held the 36-31 lead at the break after a Salaun three-pointer and one more Charles layup.
Third Quarter
Napheesa Collier made a three-pointer to start the second half scoring, but the Valkyries built their biggest lead of the game after Iliana Rupert made a pair of free throws and Janelle Salaun made a three-pointer. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride made baskets for the Lynx, but Kaila Charles responded immediately each time. The Valkyries had a few tough minutes on offense and Williams hit two jumpshots to get Minnesota closer, but Salaun ended the drought by securing a rebound and making the putback. Rupert made a layup and Salaun made two free throws to get the Golden State lead back up to seven points, but the struggles started for the team. Minnesota scored the last sixteen points of the quarter without any answer as Collier started the run with a three-pointer and Jessica Shepard made two baskets. Natisha Hiedeman was the main igniter, giving the Lynx the lead after being fouled beyond the arc with what was ruled as a reckless closeout by Veronica Burton, giving them a five-point possession on the flagrant foul. She then made two three-pointers for a 61-52 lead at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
While the Valkyries were playing better on defense to start the quarter, the offensive woes continued, going past five minutes without points before Veronica Burton converted a three-point play. Iliana Rupert hit an impressive three-pointer to bring Golden State within a possession, but Napheesa Collier scored the first basket for the Lynx. Burton scored again, but Bridget Carleton made her only field goal of the game for Minnesota and then Natisha Hiedeman also connected from distance to restore the nine point lead. Monique Billings scored next and Burton hit a three-pointer after a Carleton free throw to keep the Valkyries close. Burton got to the line forcing a Lynx timeout, but one make from her was offset by two free throws from Collier. Iliana Rupert hit a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game again, but Hiedeman was able to get to the free throw line as the Valkyries tried to get a stop. Burton converted a three-point play, but Minnesota was aggressive on offense, getting a Collier basket when the Valkyries needed another stop and then Kayla McBride sealed the game with two free throws to win 78-72.
The Verdict
This was going to be a tough game to try to complete a perfect homestand with the Lynx coming off of a loss and looking to avoid a losing streak so close to the playoffs. The Valkyries showed that they can compete with the top teams in the league again even though neither squad was at full strength, but a tough stretch in the second half left them chasing the game late. It ended up being a tough loss, but they will get the chance to avenge it in the last regular season game when they visit Minnesota on Thursday. Before that, they have a game against the Seattle Storm where a win would lock them in their current playoff spot.
Player of the Game
There were a few players with strong efforts for the Valkyries in this game, but this award will go to Kaila Charles this time. With two injuries on the wing, she continues to start and play key minutes for the team having not known ahead of time how long she would be needed on the team and have a role to play. Her scoring in the first three quarters set the tone in building a lead while the Lynx run happened during her rest. She returned for the fourth quarter, but turned to more of a playmaking role with her shot no longer falling and she also ended up tying for the team lead in rebounds.
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