The Golden State Valkyries hosted a playoff game for the first time, needing a win over the Minnesota Lynx to extend their season. The game was played in unfamiliar environs in San Jose, but the fans continued to bring the energy. A late lineup change was needed, but the team started well again and had the lead at halftime. The lead held up in the third quarter, only to see the Lynx make the fourth quarter surge that had defined recent meetings and take a lead late. Golden State had a change to get the win on a final shot, but it missed and they lost 75-74 to be eliminated in heartbreaking fashion. It was a tough end to a season that had been a success in many ways and the top seed survived challenges from the upstarts.
First Quarter
The Valkyries made one change to their lineup with Temi Fagbenle ruled out with a late injury, starting Iliana Rupert at center alongside Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kaila Charles, and Janelle Salaun. Courtney Williams opened the scoring after each team missed their first shot and then Kayla McBride made the first three-pointer. After the defense got some stops, Burton finally got Golden State on board with a three-pointer and then Charles scored in transition after a steal. Napheesa Collier got the lead back for the Lynx, but Rupert made a three-pointer for the first Valkyries lead. Another steal led to a Zandalasini layup, but Alanna Smith was next to score before the media timeout as Monique Billings was the first player to come off of the bench.
Salaun was fouled to cause the timeout and she made both free throws. Collier tied the score with a three-pointer, but Billings responded before McBride answered. Burton got the lead back after she was left open beyond the arc and found by Rupert, who then picked up another assist to Salaun on the other side. McBride scored again, but Billings hit a short jumper, and then DiJonai Carrington made a free throw. Kate Martin entered the game and immediately made a layup, but Williams scored before Martin scored again from the corner for a 27-19 lead.
Second Quarter
Carla Leite entered the game to start the quarter, but it was DiJonai Carrington scoring the first basket over her. She did find Iliana Rupert on the wing for another Valkyries three-pointer. Both teams struggled to score for a while, but Minnesota was able to get a free throw from Napheesa Collier on a Defensive Three Seconds violation and then she scored on the ensuing possession. Another Golden State turnover led to a timeout.
Both teams continued their cold spells before Cecilia Zandalasini made a three-pointer and then Monique Billings called for the ball in the post with a defensive mismatch on her and she made the basket to force a Lynx timeout. Carrington finally got a basket for Minnesota, but Janelle Salaun restored the double-digit lead. Billings made a layup on a nice drive and then Salaun scored a transition basket after another excellent defensive play. Collier made a basket, but missed the free throw, leaving the advantage at 41-28 to the Valkyries.
Third Quarter
After a brief clock delay, the teams were able to take the court, but there was an early timeout for a Minnesota challenge. The replay did not overturn the call so Veronica Burton got two free throws and made both. After another stop, Cecilia Zandalasini made a basket, but could not complete the three-point play. Bridget Carleton made two three-pointers surrounding a Burton basket. Burton was left open on the wing and made the three-pointer, but Janelle Salaun picked up a technical after being whistled for a foul only to see Napheesa Collier miss the free throw. Kayla McBride was able to convert a three-point play when action resumed. Carleton connected from long-range one more time to force a Valkyries timeout.
Collier scored after a Valkyries miss, but Zandalasini made a three-pointer to put the lead back at double-digits. Monique Billings made a basket on her second attempt, but McBride answered immediately. Collier got to the free throw line, but only made one before Salaun made another three-pointer. Collier responded only to foul Salaun beyond the arc and two of the free throws were made. Collier scored again, but Monique Billings scored the last basket of the quarter and completed a three-point play for the 63-49 Golden State lead.
Fourth Quarter
Napheesa Collier continued to keep Minnesota in the game with another basket to start this quarter and then Natisha Hiedeman made her first basket after torturing the Valkyries in recent games. DiJonai Carrington banked in a three-pointer and Kayla McBride scored next to force a Golden State timeout. They could not score on their first possession so another basket from McBride made it a one-possession game again. Cecilia Zandalasini made a tough basket to finally get the Valkyries on the board and an Iliana Rupert block led to a Kaila Charles three-pointer that caused the Lynx to take a timeout.
Bridget Carleton made a three-pointer after the stoppage, but Rupert responded with a layup only to see Collier answer immediately. Collier was sent to the free throw line to avoid giving up an easy layup and she was only able to split the pair. Carrington made a three-pointer from the corner to cut the deficit to a single point. After a Valkyries miss, McBride gave Minnesota the lead, but Monique Billings made a tough shot to get it back. Collier responded with a jumpshot and Courtney Williams made a basket after multiple Golden State misses with half a minute left. Zandalasini scored right after the timeout and the Valkyries opted to play defense instead of fouling, forcing the shot clock violation. Zandalasini got the play called for her to try to get the game-winning shot, but it missed and it was a 75-74 loss.
The Verdict
Golden State played like a team facing elimination, shooting well early and relying on the defense that had helped them all season to build a lead. Minnesota is on a championship mission though and did what they had done in recent games against the Valkyries, coming back in the second half to take the lead, ultimately holding on in the final minute. It would have been a big deal for the Valkyries to take at least one game in the series and leave open the possibility of a massive upset, but the late game struggles that had hurt at other times in the season reared their head again and they could not find the scores that they needed.
Player of the Game
Multiple players stepped up to deliver this overall effort for the Valkyries, but we will go with Monique Billings for the final award of the season. She ended up playing the fewest minutes of any healthy player in the last game as the Valkyries tried to play mainly smallball lineups in Minneapolis, but Temi Fagbenle being a late scratch meant that she played all of the backup center minutes and also saw some time in two-post lineups. She ended up being the team’s leading scorer, injecting energy on both ends of the court when the team needed her most.
Leave a Reply