Valkyries Finally Crack the Lynx

Golden State had spent its brief history unable to beat Minnesota. That streak ended with authority as the Valkyries defeated the Lynx 80-66, earning their first victory over Minnesota after nine previous losses across the regular season and playoffs. Golden State improved to 26-11, while Minnesota fell to 31-8, and the Valkyries finally turned a matchup that had repeatedly gone the Lynx’s way into one of their strongest wins of the season.

Minnesota opened with an 8-2 lead, but Golden State quickly settled into the game. Janelle Salaün finished a 2-on-1 break with a layup at the first-quarter buzzer, giving the Valkyries a 17-16 edge. Golden State won the second quarter by the same 17-16 score and went into halftime ahead 34-32. The Valkyries created a little more separation in the third, outscoring Minnesota 21-16 to take a 55-48 lead into the final quarter.

Minnesota remained within striking distance at 63-57 early in the fourth, but Golden State answered with the run that decided the game. The Valkyries scored 14 of the next 15 points to build a 77-58 advantage. Veronica Burton supplied seven straight Golden State points during the quarter, starting with a deep 3-pointer before attacking Olivia Miles off the dribble for a left-handed finish and later creating space for a mid-range jumper. Cecilia Zandalasini then buried consecutive 3-pointers during the closing surge, helping push Minnesota beyond reach.

Zandalasini led all scorers with 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter. Gabby Williams finished with 15, while Burton had 14 points, nine assists and five steals. Tiffany Hayes also scored 14, and Salaün gave Golden State 12 points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench. With five Valkyries scoring in double figures, Minnesota had no single scorer it could focus on for long.

Golden State also made life difficult for Minnesota’s top offensive options. Napheesa Collier was held to nine points on 4-of-10 shooting, while Olivia Miles scored eight on 3-of-12 shooting. Natasha Howard led the Lynx with 13 points, and Kayla McBride added 12. Minnesota finished at 35.6 percent from the field, while Golden State shot 43.7 percent. Burton’s five steals tied her career high, and her work at both ends gave the Valkyries another source of pressure whenever Minnesota tried to regain control.

The fourth quarter told the story. Golden State scored 25 points in the period while holding Minnesota to 18, turning a seven-point lead after three quarters into the 80-66 final. Zandalasini supplied the late scoring, Burton controlled the pace, and the Valkyries kept Minnesota from mounting a serious response once the lead reached double digits.

For Golden State, the result carried more meaning than another number in the standings. The Valkyries had faced Minnesota nine times before and lost all nine, including three playoff meetings. This time they stayed composed after the early deficit, built their lead quarter by quarter and finished the job against the team sitting atop the standings. After months of chasing their first win over the Lynx, the Valkyries finally have it, and they earned it with their most complete fourth-quarter stretch of the matchup.