The Golden State Valkyries started this year’s playoffs on Sunday, hosting a postseason game in San Francisco for the first time after being forced to find another venue last year. It was close early against the Dallas Wings, but an incredible second quarter meant a big halftime lead. They were able to coast in the second half to get the 104-80 win and get ready for the next game. The Wings will host on Wednesday with their season on the line as the Valkyries try to complete the sweep and to avoid an extra game.
The Lineup
There was no late player news for either team so the Valkyries were able to go with their expected lineup. Dallas started Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist, Awak Kuier, and Jessica Shepard. The trajectory of the game did not lend itself to too much insight into what would happen with rotations in a close game. The Valkyries did go with nine players in the first half, going with smallball lineups, and then mixed and matched while getting players rest as everyone eventually got to play. The Wings were reluctant to use their bench early as they are struggling with depth in this series in comparison.
First Quarter
The first points of the game came from Cecilia Zandalasini as she hit a baseline jumpshot after getting the ball from an inbounds play. Dallas responded immediately with a three-pointer on their first possession and also got the first two free throws. A familiar offensive set got Gabby Williams a layup off of the weave, but the Wings got a three-point play. Williams and Zandalasini made three-pointers around a Dallas basket to tie the score only for the Wings to take the lead again before the media timeout.
Williams scored again as the first substitutions came in and Tiffany Hayes made an impact immediately after getting a steal and layup. Dallas tied it and took the lead once more time before Veronica Burton was able to get a defensive mismatch and set up a good shot. Hayes made her first three-pointer and answered a Wings three-point play with a layup to give the Valkyries the 21-20 lead.
Second Quarter
Tiffany Hayes picked up where she left off with consecutive three-pointers and a pair of free throws to start the quarter. Dallas was able to keep pace early before the Valkyries really started to build their lead. Kayla Thornton’s three-pointer forced them to take a timeout and then she got a fast break layup to make it a double-digit margin for the first time. The Wings were able to keep pace even as Gabby Williams drove in twice to set up a layup and a midrange jumper.
The big Golden State run came later in the quarter, starting with Cecilia Zandalasini returning to deliver a three-point play followed by a Veronica Burton three-pointer to prompt another timeout. Gabby Williams set up one of her longer two-point shots and then Zandalasini had a pair of long-range makes and another three-point play. Dallas scored on a couple of possessions, but Burton scored again to close they half on a 20-3 run for the 58-31 lead.
Third Quarter
Dallas scored on their first possession as they were looking for anything that could reverse their fortunes. There was an early stoppage as Gabby Williams got fouled making a layup with time needed to infection control and for the officials to review the foul, which was not upgraded, leaving her with one free throw. Kayla Thornton made a three-pointer and a layup on consecutive possessions before another stoppage. The Valkyries unsuccessfully challenged and foul call on Veronica Burton and then there was another pause between free throws for more infection control.
The Wings did continue to find more success on offense than they had in the first half, but never really threatened the lead. Burton made a pair of free throws and Cecilia Zandalasini continued the team’s excellent shooting from beyond the arc. One more replay review was needed after she was fouled from distance and she made two of the free throws after nothing was changed. Janelle Salaun scored her first basket with a three-pointer as bench players made their entrances. Kiah Stokes got her first points on free throws. Tiffany Hayes returned to make two free throws and a layup while Kaitlyn Chen also got her first points from long-range. Dallas’s bench had their moments after struggling early, but they still trailed 85-56.
Fourth Quarter
Aminata Gueye got to play in front of the home fans for the first time to start this quarter and it was clear that the mission was to get her her first points in the league as soon as possible. The defensive attention allowed her to find Kaitlyn Chen for an assist first before the favor was returned and she was able to score in the post. She found Gabby Williams for a three-pointer to give the Valkyries their biggest lead of the game.
Williams added a free throw and Tiffany Hayes got a layup before the first media timeout as the result was decided by that point. Dallas suddenly got hot themselves from distance as the benches were emptied. Kaila Charles scored her first basket from beyond the arc as well. After Juste Jocyte completed her second half warmup, she entered the game and got the ball on her first possession, delivering a three-pointer to get the team past the century mark. Chen closed the scoring with the shot clock running down in the final minute as her three-pointer made the team percentage 50% from long-range for the final 104-80 margin.
Player of the Game
This was another good team effort with multiple scoring explosions as the award will go to Tiffany Hayes for her first half run. She entered the game in the first quarter while it was close and scored seven points in the frame. That did not slow down in the second quarter with the first eight points making it a thirteen-point streak for her without anyone else on the team scoring to build the lead that the Valkyries would never relinquish. After she missed last year’s playoffs due to injury, this is her opportunity to be the veteran presence for the team as she has ramped up into a bigger scoring role over the course of the season.
The Verdict
This was certainly about as well as a playoff game could go for the team. While Dallas looked dangerous at points, the offense and defense from the Valkyries put the game pretty much beyond doubt by halftime. Players were both able to get in rhythm and rest in the second half and they should be prepared for a big game on Wednesday. The Wings will certainly be trying their hardest to avoid elimination in their home game and both teams will be taking lessons from this game.
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