The Golden State Valkyries had one road game between home games on Friday when they visited the Seattle Storm. The teams had met there five weeks ago to open the season with the hosts having more players available this time. Seattle entered the game on a seven-game losing streak, but started the game on fire. Golden State took the lead before halftime and then built on it in the third quarter only to go completely cold in the fourth quarter, just making enough plays at the end to escape with a 76-72 win.
The Lineup
There were no changes to the starting lineups for either team for this game. The Valkyries had the same rotation in the first half, but started the second half with Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaun in place of Cecilia Zandalasini, who did not play in the second half at all, and Kayla Thornton. Neither team set any of their developmental players as active.
First Quarter
Neither team looked to be in a rhythm in the opening minutes, but then they traded three-pointers with Gabby Williams answering for the Valkyries. Golden State was able to get a steal and Kayla Thornton ran the floor for the fast break layup. Seattle tied the score at the free throw line and took the lead with an open shot beyond the arc, expanding it before Kiah Stokes was found on the roll for a layup. The Storm forced a Valkyries timeout after another basket and a three-pointer.
The stoppage did not get Golden State back on track immediately after a tough turnover and Seattle only looked stronger after another three-pointer. Kaitlyn Chen, who was the first player off of the bench due to foul trouble passed it to Williams, who was fouled shooting from long-range and made all three free throws. Cecilia Zandalasini scored next after some early tough misses and then drew a foul after a steal. Janelle Salaun took her usual contested three-pointer from the wing and got fouled in the process, converting the four-point play after nothing was tacked on during a replay review. Seattle was able to halt the momentum with another three-pointer from young Awa Fam, who also blocked a shot at the other end. Salaun did not stop attacking, making two more free throws before tying the score at 21 with a second chance at a three-pointer before the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Tiffany Hayes drove on the first Golden State possession and drew the foul to convert a three-point play. Seattle also got to the free throw line, but Hayes got into the lane again for another basket. The Storm’s perfect start beyond the arc continued as they took the lead back, but both teams struggled on offense before the media timeout.
Seattle scored twice after the stoppage before Veronica Burton stopped the run after making a tough floater only to miss the free throw. She found Gabby Williams on the wing for a tying three-pointer next and got the lead back after being fouled on a layup, making the free throw after another replay review. The Storm missed two attempts beyond the arc finally, but then made their next opportunity to regain the advantage, making another one on the following possession. Janelle Salaun made a tough jumper in response and Tiffany Hayes tied the score. Salaun beat the shot clock right before halftime for a 40-38 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
Seattle scored to start the second half, but Janelle Salaun answered with a three-pointer and Tiffany Hayes also took advantage of starting with another basket off of a drive. Gabby Williams got a steal and score as the defensive intensity ramped up with Veronica Burton getting fouled and forcing a rare timeout between free throws as she split the pair. Williams found an open lane to the basket for a layup before the Storm stopped the run. Salaun was left open beyond the arc and made another shot and Burton made two free throws for a double-digit lead.
The Valkyries challenged a foul call, but did not win the replay review, coming out unscathed after the free throws were missed. Williams scored on the first possession after the pause and then used an impressive crossover to set up another layup. Seattle was able to make two more deep shots to stop the bleeding, but Hayes scored after they cut it to single digits and she made two free throws after the Storm unsuccessfully challenged the foul call. Burton made a three pointer and then Seattle ended the quarter with a basket to trail 66-53.
Fourth Quarter
Neither team found any flow early in the quarter as there was a timeout before any scoring, which finally came on a Seattle fast break. The Storm were only able to score one more time before the Valkyries got on the board, which was fortunate as they went more than halfway through the period before Janelle Salaun made another three-pointer. Kayla Thornton was called for a technical foul after catching Dominique Malonga in the face in a battle for a rebound, causing the young center to exit the game briefly. There was another replay review where it was determined that no foul occurred and then Seattle suddenly got closer with the Valkyries still being completely cold, forcing another timeout.
Tiffany Hayes was turned to in order to initiate offense with a drive and her free throws halted the momentum briefly. The Storm made one more free throw to make it a one-possession game in the final minute. Janelle Salaun fouled out trying to get a rebound as the free throws left Seattle trailing by a point, but they missed their chance to take a lead and Hayes sank two free throws when they fouled to extend the game. Golden State chased them off of the three-point line and surrendered a layup instead. Gabby Williams was fouled next and also made the free throws with Kiah Stokes blocking a three-point attempt and forcing a jumpball. Kaila Charles secured the tip and made one free throw for the 76-72 win.
Player of the Game
Even with rotations tightened, this became a game when bench play was critical and this award will go to Janelle Salaun for bringing the energy from there. The Valkyries fell behind early and Salaun came in and made her usual impact to get them back in the game, getting the start in the second half so that she could be a factor earlier. She ended up being the leading scorer and filled her role again defensively against a very tall frontcourt. It was unfortunate that she fouled out as it would have been great for her to be able to see the win through, but she ended up playing more minutes than anyone else on the team.
The Verdict
There were times when this looked like it would be a solid, business-like win against a struggling team. Instead, the game ended up coming down to the wire after a dreadful start to the fourth quarter and the main rotation players had to be relied on again to close out the game. In the end, the win was what mattered and the team now gets two days without a game before a homestand, but rest suddenly becomes a big deal in the upcoming four-game week.
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