The Golden State Valkyries faced the Atlanta Dream for the second game in a row on Friday. Unlike the last game where they got out to a lead in the first half, this was a game that went back and forth between the two teams with neither squad ever enjoying a lead of more than two possessions. The fourth quarter was played in an even narrower window, but the Valkyries took the lead in the last two minutes and made the plays when they mattered down the stretch to hold on to a 78-75 win.
The Lineup
Neither team had late injury news or decided to activate any of their developmental players, so the lineups were the same as the last game. The Valkyries returned to the kind of ten-player rotation that they deployed early in the season with Laeticia Amihere getting into the game earlier. Along with their full platoon at point guard, the move gave them a platoon at center instead of mixing in smallball lineups as they countered Atlanta’s height. There was more time for the full bench unit to play together as well as the usual mixing of lineups to go with what was working.
First Quarter
Both teams missed three-point attempts on their first possessions, but Kiah Stokes started the scoring when she blocked a shot and then was left wide open on the wing to connect beyond the arc. She was fouled on the next trip down the floor, making one of the free throws before Atlanta got their first points at the charity stripe. Cecilia Zandalasini had a height advantage on her defender and used it to post up and set up a close-range jumpshot. The Dream got going from long-range as Veronica Burton got a steal and score and Gabby Williams got on the board with a layup as the score was tied heading into the media timeout.
Both teams turned to their bench when action resumed, but neither side was able to score early before Atlanta pressed their advantage in the post. Burton took advantage of a mismatch on the other end to tie the score and then Janelle Salaun restored the lead after finding the mark on her third three-point attempt. Both teams had more success in the final minutes as Salaun made it again from behind the arc and Kaitlyn Chen was able to make a layup after a tough drive. The Valkyries looked to be seeing out the quarter with a lead, but a Dream three-pointer before the buzzer had them with the 21-20 advantage instead.
Second Quarter
Defense was the story early in this quarter as there were steals and blocks on both sides. Kaitlyn Chen drove on her taller defender after securing an offensive rebound for the first basket of the period, but Atlanta got free throws and a three-point play to take the lead back. Veronica Burton was able to generate a good look before the shot clock expired, but needed to exit the game right after that for some treatment. Cecilia Zandalasini scored next before a Valkyries timeout and then Chen got them the lead after that having gotten open on an inbounds play.
The teams traded trips to the free throw line next with Gabby Williams making one for Golden State as Atlanta took the lead back with a three-point play and then scored again for force a second Valkyries timeout. The Dream made another basket, but Kiah Stokes grabbed an offensive rebound and then was found in the corner with the shot clock running down for another three-pointer, which ended up being the last points of the half, leaving the Valkyries trailing 35-32.
Third Quarter
Atlanta scored first in this quarter, but the Valkyries turned to Kiah Stokes again for their first basket. She delivered another block that resulted in a change of possession, which Golden State capitalized on when Veronica Burton was able to get open from a well-timed cut. There were a quiet couple of minutes for the Valkyries as the Dream were able to score, including by taking advantage of a turnover again. The bench backcourt returned and Tiffany Hayes got her first points on a three-point play before she found Kaitlyn Chen on the wing for a three-pointer.
The Dream took a timeout and got the lead back by going to their height advantage in the post right away. There was another stoppage during a choppy minute that featured a ton of fouls, but the replay review did not lead to Hayes’s foul being ruled to be a transition take. Neither team got any rhythm back until Hayes ended the drought. Atlanta made a free throw and a three-pointer to get the lead back. The free throw line was the story late too with Kaila Charles making a pair only to get called for a foul that the Valkyries failed to challenge in time. Hayes made three out of four attempts and the Dream also got a four-point play. Stokes continued to chip in with timely baskets as her layup left Golden State trailing 55-51.
Fourth Quarter
With the bench players performing so well, Golden State left them in to keep the starters available for the stretch run and Kaitlyn Chen tied the score with a layup and a pair of free throws after two more successful drives. Atlanta was able to get their lead back as the Valkyries tried their luck from distance, finally getting points on a Hayes floater. The closing lineup took the floor as Hayes lost a jumpball with a height disadvantage, but managed to get the block right after that. Janelle Salaun made a pair of free throws before the media timeout and Hayes made a layup before Atlanta got the league back, causing a Valkyries timeout.
Kiah Stokes became the big offensive threat again when action resumed, making a layup before the Dream responded. Gabby Willliams had been quieter on the offensive end than in recent games, but she suddenly took the game over at the end. She tied the score three times in a row by getting to the basket on drives and then took the lead after Atlanta lost a challenge on an out-of-bounds call. On the next possession, she got the steal and score to make it a two-possession game. The Dream pushed back by attacking the basket, causing Stokes to foul out in the process. Williams split her free throws three times to at least keep the lead the same and then Veronica Burton sealed the game with two foul shots. Atlanta made a three-pointer at the end to leave final margin at 78-75.
Player of the Game
There were a number of good efforts in the game, especially with different individuals stepping up at different critical times in the game. This award will go to Kiah Stokes for this game for her contributions throughout the contest. Her seven blocked shots were obviously the highlight as they generally resulted in immediate Golden State possessions too. Her scoring ended up being key too as she continues to take shots within the offense without hesitation and this game gave her more opportunities than usual to get open.
The Verdict
This was another building block win for the team as both sides made plenty of adjustments based on the last game. The Valkyries were able to slow the Dream’s offense down again and then find ways to score enough on the other end with the long-range shots not falling at the level of Wednesday’s fireworks. They also overcame an uncharacteristic number of turnovers that limited their opportunities. It was another good team win where contributions were able to come from multiple sources. They now have one more game in this homestand before a break and then some time on the road that starts with yet another game against Atlanta in a week.
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