The Valkyries have confirmed repeatedly that when the stakes are the best, they ship.
They delivered in tight fourth quarters, on the highway in hostile environments and in moments when their inexperience was presupposed to catch as much as them.
And on Thursday night time, they delivered the largest win of the season.
In entrance of its twenty first consecutive offered out crowd of the season, Golden State clawed its method again from a sluggish begin to defeat the league-worst Dallas Wings 84-80 to ensure its spot into the postseason. The Valkyries are the primary WNBA growth crew to make the playoffs of their first season.
Janelle Salaün led the Valkyries with 19 factors. Carla Leite got here off the bench and scored 15 factors and dished out 5 assists. Monique Billings added 11 factors.
Paige Bueckers led Dallas with 27 factors. Former Archbishop Mitty and Stanford standout Haley Jones had 18.
Golden State is the Bay Space’s second consecutive growth crew to make the playoffs in its inaugural season, becoming a member of Bay FC, which made the NWSL postseason final yr.
The Valkyries have been completely outplayed within the first half.
Golden State normally opens video games whipping the ball round and making groups uncomfortable with its aggressive fashion of protection.
However the younger Wings weren’t phased. Jones torched the Valkyries for 12 factors within the first half whereas Dallas held the house crew to 31.4% capturing and compelled eight turnovers.
At halftime, Dallas led 41-32.
The Wings continued to pour it on early within the third quarter as they constructed their benefit to as huge as 13 behind a barrage of mid-range jumpers from Bueckers.
However the Valkyries shifted the momentum of the sport by way of Leite.
Leite scored six factors within the quarter and put fixed strain on the rim. The rookie guard took management of the offense and initiated each play for the Valkyries.
Golden State minimize the deficit to 4 going into the fourth quarter as the group at Chase Heart continued to feed the crew vitality.
Within the ultimate interval, each groups traded baskets till the ultimate seconds. The Valkyries continued to play by way of Leite.
However the decisive bucket got here when Veronica Burton laid in a basket whereas getting fouled to increase the Valkyries’ result in 5 with 22.3 seconds left.
Dallas opened the sport scorching, happening a 10-0 run by way of the primary three minutes of the primary quarter.
The Valkyries can have their ultimate dwelling recreation of the season on Saturday in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx.
