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Posts tagged as “Golden State Valkyries”

WNBA First-Round Game 1 Roundup, Upset by Liberty, Fever missing their Big 3

September 28, 2026
WNBA First-Round Game 1 Roundup, Upset by Liberty, Fever missing their Big 3

The opening salvo of the WNBA postseason did not disappoint. Game 1 across the First-Round matchups set an intense baseline for the rest of the series. With early-series momentum on the line, home-court advantages were defended, high-profile road upsets delivered early drama, and championship contenders laid down explicit statements.

Here is a full breakdown of how Game 1 unfolded across the league.

New York Liberty 91, Minnesota Lynx 75

  • Location: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)
  • Series State: New York leads 1–0

In one of the most compelling matchups on the schedule, the New York Liberty delivered a dominant performance on the road to silence the crowd in Minneapolis. New York controlled the pace from the early going, utilizing crisp ball movement and structured perimeter defense to disrupt Minnesota’s rhythm.

Key Performers & Turning Point

  • Execution Breakdown: The Liberty pulled away after half-time, capitalized on transition opportunities, and restricted high-efficiency looks inside.
  • Impact: Stealing Game 1 away from home puts immense pressure on Minnesota heading into Game 2.

Las Vegas Aces 102, Indiana Fever 85

  • Location: Michelob ULTRA Arena (Las Vegas, NV)
  • Series State:Las Vegas leads 1–0

The Storyline

The championship-caliber Las Vegas Aces put on an offensive clinic at home, breaking the 100-point threshold to handle a spirited Indiana Fever squad. Las Vegas used their veteran playoff experience to weather an early perimeter push from Indiana before pulling away in the second half.

Key Performers & Turning Point

  • Execution Breakdown: The Aces’ inside-out offensive balance proved too much to contain, generating high-percentage paint points and baseline cuts.
  • Impact: Indiana showcased flashes of rapid transition scoring, but costly turnovers prevented them from keeping pace with Las Vegas’ relentless firepower down the stretch.

Atlanta Dream 92, Washington Mystics 77

  • Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)
  • Series State: Atlanta leads 1–0

The Storyline

After falling behind 41–36 at half-time following a sluggish opening two quarters, the Atlanta Dream exploded in the third quarter to completely upend the Washington Mystics. Atlanta flipped the switch defensively and dominated the second half.

Key Performers & Turning Point

  • Rhyne Howard & Allisha Gray: Gray led all scorers with 17 points, while Howard took control in the third period by scoring 12 of her 16 points to anchor the game-altering run. Dewanna Bonner added 11 third-quarter points to solidify the surge.
  • Turning Point: Atlanta forced 7 third-quarter turnovers, converting them into 14 quick points while holding Washington to just 20% shooting in the period.

Golden State Valkyries 104, Dallas Wings 80

  • Location: Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)
  • Series State: Golden State leads 1–0<

The Storyline

Making their mark on the playoff stage at Chase Center, the Golden State Valkyries made quick work of the Dallas Wings in a 24-point blowout. Golden State establish early tempo, crashing the glass aggressively and running the floor at every opportunity.

Key Performers & Turning Point

  • Execution Breakdown: Golden State scored effortlessly in transition, building an early double-digit lead that Dallas could never meaningfully chip away at.
  • Impact: The Valkyries set a firm defensive blueprint, limiting Dallas’ primary interior options and taking full advantage of home-court momentum.

Strategic Takeaways Ahead of Game 2

  • Protecting Home Court Isn’t Guaranteed: New York showed that home advantage can vanish quickly if road teams strike early with intense defensive game plans.
  • Third-Quarter Adjustments: Half-time adjustments were the deciding factor in games like Atlanta vs. Washington, where forcing live-ball turnovers completely re-routed the series trajectory.
  • Elimination Pressure: With the short First-Round format, every trailing team now faces an immediate high-stakes Game 2 where season survival is on the line.

It’ll be interesting to see what adjustments the losing teams make in Game 2. If no adjustments are made, this will be a short series.

2026 WNBA Playoffs Tip Off: First-Round Matchups Set for Sunday

September 25, 2026
2026 WNBA Playoffs Tip Off: First-Round Matchups Set for Sunday

The 2026 WNBA regular season has officially concluded, setting up a high-stakes first round of the postseason starting Sunday, September 27. With a competitive 44-game slate in the books, eight teams now advance to battle in the best-of-three quarterfinal series.

The top-seeded Minnesota Lynx (33-11) lead the postseason field after locking up the league’s best record, driven by stellar rookie playmaker Olivia Miles and forward Napheesa Collier. Minnesota faces a dangerous opening-round challenge against the No. 8 New York Liberty (26-18), who boast Championship-caliber star power in Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu.

In the second seed, the expansion Golden State Valkyries (32-12) cap off a historic inaugural run powered by the WNBA’s top-rated defense. They host Paige Bueckers and the No. 7 Dallas Wings (27-17).

Meanwhile, the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces (31-13) hold the No. 3 seed and square off against Caitlin Clark and the No. 6 Indiana Fever (28-16) in a blockbuster matchup featuring two of the league’s premier offenses. Rounding out the bracket, the No. 4 Atlanta Dream host the No. 5 Washington Mystics in a tightly contested 4-vs-5 clash. Game 1 action tips off this Sunday, across ABC, Prime, and USA Network.

Unpacking the 2026 WNBA Playoff Matchups and Stretch Run

August 26, 2026
Unpacking the 2026 WNBA Playoff Matchups and Stretch Run

The 2026 WNBA regular season field has officially locked in its eight postseason contenders. With the Minnesota Lynx leading the pack and the Dallas Wings clinching the final spot, the stretch run is entirely focused on home-court advantage and matchup control.

The eight teams heading to the 2026 WNBA Playoffs are set:

  • Minnesota Lynx (31–8) – League leaders with top seed control.
  • Golden State Valkyries (26–11) – Expansion powerhouse holding the 2-seed.
  • Las Vegas Aces (26–13) – Holding steady in top-three position.
  • Atlanta Dream (25–13) – Surged into fourth behind strong two-way play.
  • Indiana Fever (25–14) – Fast-paced offense battling for top-four seeding.
  • New York Liberty (23–15) – Dangerous mid-table squad looking to move up.
  • Washington Mystics (23–15) – Tied with New York heading down the stretch.
  • Dallas Wings (23–16) – Punched the final postseason ticket.

Seeding Implications & Matchup Breakdown

Seed Range Teams Involved Key Regular Season Implications
Top Seed (#1) Minnesota Lynx Minnesota has established clear distance. The main goal down the stretch is managing player workload while locking up home-court advantage throughout the postseason.
First-Round Home-Court (#2 – #5) Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Indiana are locked in a tight battle. Earning a top-four seed guarantees host status for the first round, making head-to-head tiebreakers crucial.
Middle-Tier Threat (#6 – #7) New York Liberty, Washington Mystics Both squads sit side-by-side. Finishing 6th avoids a first-round series against Minnesota, making every remaining game against playoff-bound opposition vital.
Underdog Slot (#8) Dallas Wings Dallas clinched the final berth and will likely draw a tough first-round matchup against Minnesota or Golden State.

With 5 to 6 games left in the regular season, seeding and playoff matchups could still change significantly before the postseason begins on September 27, 2026.

Valkyries Cruise Past Fever to Claim Historic Eighth Straight Win (88 – 75)

July 16, 2026
Valkyries Cruise Past Fever to Claim Historic Eighth Straight Win (88 – 75)

The Golden State Valkyries extended their franchise-record winning streak to eight games with an impressive 88-75 road victory over the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

The Valkyries controlled the tempo of the matchup, pulling away in the second half with cohesive team play and sharp shooting. Golden State’s balanced offensive attack was led by Gabby Williams, who emerged as the top performer for her team, scoring 16 points and anchoring a robust defensive effort.

Despite the loss, the Fever showed flashes of resilience, staying within reach during the third quarter. Indiana’s standout performer was veteran guard Kelsey Mitchell, who delivered a stellar 20-point performance to set a franchise record with her eighth consecutive 20-point game. Meanwhile, teammate Caitlin Clark contributed 13 points in a physically demanding game marked by a heated second-quarter collision.

Full gamehighlights;

The Valkyries defeat the Fever 88-75 to obtain their 8th straight win!

Gabby Williams: 16 PTS | 3 STL | 3 REB | 2 3PM
Kaitlyn Chen: 14 PTS | 3 AST | 5/5 from the field
Tiffany Hayes: 13 PTS | 2 REB | 2 AST

With the momentum of their winning streak, the Valkyries head back to Chase Center to host the Washington Mystics on Saturday, July 18. The Fever will look to bounce back immediately as they remain in Indianapolis to face the Seattle Storm on Friday, July 17.

Burton, Williams lead the way as Valkyries hold off Clark, Fever in 90-88 win  

May 30, 2026

By AP on ESPN;

Veronica Burton had 25 points, six rebounds and a career-best five blocked shots, Gabby Williams added 19 points, six rebounds and six assists, and the Golden State Valkyries beat Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 90-88 on Thursday night.

Clark’s 3-pointer with 3:55 to play pulled Indiana to 81-80 and Aliyah Boston put the Fever ahead with a jumper the next time down. But Clark turned the ball over with 1:32 left and her team trailing by three then again with 1:06 to go before missing a 3 with 40 seconds remaining.

Indiana had another chance with 24.8 seconds left and Sophie Cunningham scored on an uncontested layup. Williams missed the first of two free throws on the other end. Boston missed a turnaround jumper as the final buzzer sounded — sending the celebratory sellout home crowd into a frenzy.

As bad as Caitlin was in this game, the Fever are still in this game thanks to Indiana’s bench lead by Sophie Cunningham with 11 points and Raven Johnson, who scored a career high of 16 points.

Game highlights;

The Golden State Valkyries pull away at the end to defeat the Indiana Fever 90-88 🙌

Veronica Burton: 25 PTS | 6 REB | 5 BLKS (career-high) | 3 AST
Janelle Salaün: 19 PTS | 7 REB | 3 AST | 3 3PM
Gabby Williams: 19 PTS | 6 REB | 6 AST | 3 STL

Indiana Fever will travel to Portland for its second road game, while the Golden State Valkyries host the Las Vegas Aces for the second game of their three-game homestand.

Fever Heat Up: Clark and Boston Dominate Third Quarter to Halt Surging Valkyries, 90-82

May 23, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS — There is a distinct, rhythmic roar that echoes through Gainbridge Fieldhouse when the Indiana Fever find their transition groove, and the Golden State Valkyries found themselves squarely on the wrong end of it.

Behind a masterful balancing act from their cornerstone tandem of Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston, the Fever weathered a fierce second-quarter storm to secure a hard-fought 90-82 victory over the WNBA’s sophomore franchise. The win pushes Indiana to a promising 4-2 start for the 2026 season—their best opening six-game stretch since 2012, the year where they won the championship.

For a moment, it looked like the Valkyries were going to pull off a massive upset. Lead by the veteran savvy of Tiffany Hayes (19 points) and a brilliant spark from rookie sensation Kaitlyn Chen (18 points off the bench), Golden State staged a relentless 26-18 second-quarter run. They walked into the locker room at halftime holding a comfortable seven-point cushion and all the momentum.

But the third quarter belonged entirely to Indiana.

Adjusting to Golden State’s suffocating defensive traps, Clark began carving up the perimeter, scoring eight points in the frame while dishing out laser-focused assists. Meanwhile, Boston anchored the interior, punishing the Valkyries in the paint. Indiana flipped the script with a crushing 29-17 third-quarter surge, establishing a lead they would never relinquish.

Inside the Box Score

Player Points Rebounds Assists Key Stat
Caitlin Clark (IND) 22 2 9 4-of-9 from three-point range
Aliyah Boston (IND) 20 16 3 Labeled 42nd career double-double
Kelsey Mitchell (IND) 19 0 3 Flawless 11-of-11 from the free-throw line
Tiffany Hayes (GSV) 19 2 2 Shot 7-of-13 from the field
Kaitlyn Chen (GSV) 18 1 0 Provided instant offense in 19 minutes

Rewriting History

The night wasn’t just a win in the standings; it was another milestone evening for Indiana’s foundation pieces.

With her bruising 20-point, 16-rebound performance, Aliyah Boston secured her 42nd career double-double, tying legend Elena Delle Donne for the 34th most in WNBA history. Simultaneously, Clark’s 9-assist showcase inches her closer to smashing Sue Bird’s historic record as the fastest player to hit 1,000 points and 500 career assists.

“Yeah, it was definitely really physical, too. Um, and they’re a really good team and they’re really good defensively and we battled and I thought we played really great defense, especially in the second half and um thought we got off to a good start, then we kind of dropped a little bit and then the second half was really really good and kind of powered us through.” Clark said postgame. “But for me personally, like it was definitely good to, you know, see my first two shots go in and then kind of go from there.”

When the Valkyries intentionally fouled late to stop the clock, Kelsey Mitchell put on a masterclass in ice-cold execution. Mitchell went a perfect 11-for-11 from the charity stripe, shutting the door on any hopes of a Golden State comeback.

Game highlights;

What’s Next

The Valkyries (3-2) will have another shot at the Fever as they face them on the 28th of May at the Bay Area for a 4-game homestand.

Golden State Valkyries waived Kate Martin

May 7, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries waived Kate Martin on May 7, 2026, as the expansion franchise finalized its inaugural 12-player roster. Martin’s professional journey began on 2024 Draft Day, where she was selected 18th overall by the Las Vegas Aces while attending the event as a spectator to support teammate Caitlin Clark.

During her 2024 rookie season with the Aces, Martin became a fan favorite, appearing in 34 games and contributing to the team’s deep playoff run. She joined Golden State via the 2025 Expansion Draft, where she averaged 6.2 points per game before a quad injury hampered her 2026 preseason.

Here is the 2025 WNBA Playoff Bracket

September 12, 2025

WNBA just concluded their regular season with all the seedings completed. Below are your WNBA Playoff Bracket for the 1st round of the WNBA Playoff.

1 – Minnesota Lynx vs 8 – Golden State Valkyries
2 – Las Vegas Aces vs 7 – Seattle Storm
3 – Atlanta Dream vs 6 – Indiana Fever
4 – Phoenix Mercury vs 5 – New York Liberty

Round One of the WNBA Playoffs will kick off this Sunday, Sept. 14th. It will be a best-of-three-game series, the 2nd round will be a best-of-five, and the Finals is a best-of-seven-game series.

WNBA Draft will be this April 14th

March 13, 2025

WNBA has announced that their annual draft will be this 14th of April at The Shed in New York City. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert will announce the draft picks live on ESPN with exclusive coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The first 5 draft picks will be;
1 – Dallas Wings
2 – Seattle Storm
3 and 4 – Washington Mystics
5 – Golden State Valkyries

UConn Guard Paige Bueckers and Olivia Miles of Notre Dame are projected to be the top two picks of the draft, that is if they decide to go pro this year and give up their final year of college eligibility.

Complete result of Golden State Valkyries 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft

December 11, 2024

The results of the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft presented by State Farm are as follows:

Player Former Team Pos Ht Yrs College/Country
Iliana Rupert Atlanta Dream C 6-4 3 France
Maria Conde Chicago Sky F 6-1 0 Florida State/Spain
Veronica Burton Connecticut Sun G 5-9 3 Northwestern
Carla Leite Dallas Wings G 5-9 0 France
Temi Fagbenle Indiana Fever C 6-4 4 USC/United Kingdom
Kate Martin Las Vegas Aces G 6-0 1 Iowa
Stephanie Talbot Los Angeles Sparks F 6-2 6 Australia
Cecilia Zandalisini Minnesota Lynx F 6-2 3 Italy
Kayla Thornton New York Liberty F 6-1 9 Texas-El Paso
Monique Billings* Phoenix Mercury F 6-4 7 UCLA
Julie Vanloo Washington Mystics G 5-8 1 Belgium

I’m not surprise that Kate Martin was picked up by the Golden State, it will be more beneficial for her to be with the Valkyries than stay with the Aces, since she will have more playing time with her new team. The shocking draft for me is Temi Fagbenle, since she’s been playing well and have good chemistry with Caitlin Clark, one could just assume that she will be protected by Indiana.

WNBA to change Game Format of Playoffs and Finals of 2025 Season

October 12, 2024

WNBA just announcedx that they will change the game format of First Round of the WNBA Playoffs and the WNBA Finals.

The league said “the WNBA Board of Governors has approved a new, best-of-seven format for the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, effective with the 2025 season, replacing the best-of-five format. The Board has also approved a 1-1-1 setup for the best-of-three First Round of the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 3 and its opponent hosting Game 2 – a change from the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 2 and its opponent hosting Game 3.”

Currently, the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs is 2-1. From a financial perspective, the current 2-1 format benefits the higher-seeded team. This is because they host the entire first round, assuming they sweep the series. This gives them an advantage in ticket sales, broadcast revenue, and other game-related income.

A good example, is the first round series between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever. The Fever got swept in the series, since the first two games was hosted by the Sun, both games got an attendance of total of 17,820. If there was at least 1 game being played in Indiana, them being the most popular team because of Caitlin Clark, we can assume that the attendance will be similar to their last home game in the regular season, with an attendance of 17,274.

The WNBA announced an increase in regular-season games to 44 per team starting next season, up from 40 games in the past two seasons. This is to accommodate the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the league’s 13th franchise. Each WNBA Teams have played 40 regular-season games in each of the last two seasons.

“We are seeing an incredible demand for WNBA basketball, as reflected in the number of cities pursuing expansion franchises, fans attending games and engaging with our social and digital platforms in record fashion, and game broadcasts and streams being consumed like never before,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The incredible demand for WNBA basketball makes this the ideal time to increase the regular season to 44 games per team and expand the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV to a best-of-seven series,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “These changes will create more opportunities to watch the best players in the world compete at the highest level and give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports.”