The Golden State Valkyries started the playoffs on Sunday, staying in Minnesota to face the Lynx again. After losses in all four of the regular season meetings, the Valkyries made some adjustments to how they approached recent games and shot well on their way to a first quarter lead. Minnesota showed how dangerous they were in the second quarter to take the lead and controlled the rest of the game to win 101-72. Golden State will have to win on Wednesday in San Jose in order to extend their season by forcing a return to Minneapolis.
The Lineup
The Valkyries made a tweak to the lineup for this game, going small with Cecilia Zandalasini returning alongside Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Janelle Salaun, and Temi Fagbenle. Kate Martin ended up being the first player off the bench after not playing until late in the last game. Iliana Rupert came off of the bench this time to start the second quarter. Monique Billings did not get playing time until the second half with Temi Fagbenle battling foul trouble and Carla Leite also entered then. Minnesota also only used seven players in the first half, but DiJonai Carrington made her return from injury in the third quarter.
First Quarter
Napheesa Collier scored the first basket of the game, but Temi Fagbenle answered with a tough finish in the post. After both teams had some misses, Bridget Cartleton made a pair of free throws, but Veronica Burton answered with a three-pointer and then Fagbenle made a free throw. The Lynx failed to secure the rebound on the miss and Burton hit another shot from distance. Fagbenle scored again in the post to cause Minnesota to take an early timeout.
Neither team was able to score immediately after that, but Collier was able to convert a three-point play. Cecilia Zandalasini was fouled behind the arc and made all three free throws. Janelle Salaun was whistled for traveling, but came back down on the next possession and made a three-pointer. Kayla McBride answered with a basket, but Fagbenle was the target in the post again and made a free throw after a foul. Natisha Hiedeman made an immediate impact with a quick basket and then McBride made a three-pointer. Fagbenle was left open for a jumper that she made, but Jessica Shepard scored in response. Salaun made a tough basket in the paint, but Shepard was able to make another putback. Hiedeman struck from long-range, but Zandalasini answered immediately, and then Salaun made another one right before the buzzer sounded for a 28-21 Valkyries lead.
Second Quarter
Neither team was able to score early in this quarter before Natisha Hiedeman took the initiative again, leading to a quick Valkyries timeout. Kayla McBride got the Lynx back within a possession, but Veronica Burton was left open on the wing and she made another three-pointer. Alanna Smith made two free throws next and then Jessica Shepard scored as their taller lineup found success before Minnesota returned to their starters. McBride tied the score at the free throw line and then gave them the lead with a layup. Smith returned to the charity stripe and made one free throw before Temi Fagbenle ended the run with another basket in the post. Hiedeman battled for a tough putback basket in the paint and then Smith stole the ball and scored in transition, but missed the chance at a three-point play. Cecilia Zandalasini scored next, but Collier answered again.
Collier headed back to the line after the media timeout and made both free throws, but Fagbenle answered. McBride made a three-pointer and then won a jumpball that led to two more Collier free throws. Zandalasini made a difficult shot to trim the deficit back to single-digits and then the Valkyries were awarded a free throw after a foul was ruled to be a Transition Take with Burton’s make leaving the score at a 47-40 deficit at the break.
Third Quarter
Cecilia Zandalasini got to the free throw line during the first possession of the half and made both. Collier started this half strong too with a basket and then Alanna Smith made a three-pointer before Courtney Williams got the steal, the score, and the free throw to push the lead out further, leading to a Valkyries timeout when they could not answer. Williams scored after the stoppage too, but Kaila Charles was able to end the early run. Veronica Burton was fouled after getting open on a cut to the basket and made both free throws. Collier then made a three-pointer before Golden State challenged an offensive foul call.
The replay result was not favorable and neither team had an offensive rhythm when action resumed, but Zandalasini did get back to the free throw line and made both attempts. McBride answered from beyond the arc after being whistled for that foul and Smith made one free throw to keep the Lynx lead growing as Collier scored again next. Kate Martin ended the spurt with a three-pointer and then Burton was fouled and made both free throws. Colier answered for Minnesota and Hiedeman returned off of the bench for another basket. Kate Martin was fouled beyond the arc and made all three free throws, but DiJonai Carrington responded immediately on her first attempt. Williams connected next after a Valkyries miss, but Janelle Salaun buried a trademark long-range two-pointer before Carrington’s second make gave Minnesota the 79-58 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Courtney Williams scored on the first possession of the quarter and Natisha Hiedeman made a three-pointer to end any hopes of a comeback. Jessica Shepard made a pair of free throws around a Natalie Nakase technical foul that resulted in a Williams free throw to extend the run. Janelle Salaun finally got the Valkyries on the board with a three-pointer. Hiedeman made a layup before a Valkyries timeout.
Jessica Shepard was the first player to score after the stoppage, making a pair of free throws before getting a steal and transition layup. Hiedeman made two free throws as both teams emptied their benches for the final four minutes. Carla Leite got her first points from the free throw line. Anatasiia Olairi Kosu, who was one of those late subs for the Lynx, scored twice in a row before the media timeout. Leite was fouled setting a screen after the last break and made two more free throws and then it was Kate Martin’s turn to make a free throw. She also made a three-pointer and another free throw as Olairi Kosu finally got Minnesota over the century mark after several misses. Kaitlyn Chen made a layup for the final 101-72 margin.
The Verdict
The Valkyries certainly tried to put the recent losses to the Lynx behind them early, shooting well on their way to a lead as their defense was disruptive again. Minnesota showed one more time that they have another gear that Golden State is not able reach yet, making sure that they got the comeback and decisive win as they began to attack that defense. With the season on the line on Wednesday, the Valkyries will once again try to make tweaks and get a boost from their home fans to extend the series.
Player of the Game
There were some strong efforts for the Valkyries as they got the early lead, but it ended up being tough for the team to sustain that rhythm. This award will go to Cecilia Zandalasini for this game as her being comfortable with more minutes meant that the Valkyries could try a lineup change to change their matchups. She ended up being tied for the lead in scoring as she found ways to keep attacking even as the team struggled on offense after a fast start. The team will need to find ways to get all of their offensive weapons firing in the next game and not rely on being able to sustain their defensive intensity for longer.
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