Kate Martin Dazzles, But Valkyries Fall Short Against Lynx

SAN FRANCISCO — For six thrilling minutes, fan-favorite Kate Martin ignited the crowd and gave the Valkyries faithful a glimmer of hope before the half to topple the undefeated defending Commissioner’s Cup champions.

But Golden State went ice-cold in the third quarter, scoring only eight points shooting 3-of-15 from the field and 0-of-9 from distance as the Minnesota Lynx improved to a perfect 7-0, defeating the Valkyries, 86-75 at Chase Center on Sunday night.

Despite the loss, the Valkyries showcased impressive performances from several players and made franchise history with another sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center, the third consecutive home game to reach capacity. The energy of the home crowd was palpable and gave the players an extra boost, even as they battled one of the league’s most formidable opponents.

Veronica Burton led the Valkyries in scoring, pouring in 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting and adding five rebounds and three assists. It was her fourth double-figure scoring performance this season and her second game of 20 or more points. Burton’s sharp shooting kept the Valkyries close in the first half and set the tone for a determined effort against a deep Minnesota roster.

The highlight of the night came from Kate Martin’s explosive career-high performance, racking up 14 points in just six minutes during the second quarter. She shot 4-of-5 from the field and drained both of her 3-point attempts, capped by a thrilling four-point play that had the Chase Center crowd in a frenzy. “Yeah, it’s her career high, right? 14 points, so just a great spark off the bench,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “That is the Kate that we know and we love.”

Reigning Sixth Woman of the Year Tiffany Hayes returned to the lineup for Golden State after missing the previous three games with a nose injury. Hayes scored nine points in the first half on 3-of-6 shooting, providing an offensive lift off the bench. Unfortunately, her night ended early after she re-injured her nose in the fourth quarter, and her status for the next game remains uncertain. Hayes’ return, however, showed glimpses of what a fully healthy Valkyries squad could be capable of in the coming weeks.

Golden State’s second unit has been one of the team’s greatest strengths so far this season, ranking third in the league in bench scoring. They once again proved their mettle in the first half, outscoring Minnesota’s reserves 22-5 and giving the Valkyries a slim 52-51 edge at the break.

However, the second half told a different story. The Valkyries were held to just two points from the bench after halftime, while the Lynx found their rhythm and took control of the game. “So if the shot’s not falling, then you have to lock up defensively,” Nakase said. “We had great moments of it. The first half was great. And then in the third, we just kind of got, we almost got a little bit down on ourselves for missing shots. But I just said, ‘Hey, let’s keep fighting,’ and that’s what you saw. Those last six minutes, that was inspiring Valkyrie basketball, that last six minutes.”

Minnesota’s decisive third-quarter run ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Lynx opened the second half with a 27-5 surge, sparked by Courtney Williams’ 3-pointer three minutes into the third period. The run was highlighted by back-to-back threes from Napheesa Collier and Williams that gave the Lynx a commanding 83-61 advantage with 5:43 remaining. Collier finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Williams added 20 points, five rebounds and five assists. Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton chipped in 16 and 12 points, respectively, to bolster the Minnesota attack.

Another bright spot from the Valkyries came from Kayla Thornton who added 11 points, bringing her within one of reaching 2,000 career points. The Valkyries also tied a season-high with 21 fast break points and 12 second-chance points, demonstrating their ability to capitalize on hustle plays and create extra scoring opportunities. Martin noted the importance of maintaining defensive intensity even when shots weren’t falling: “We talked about it in the locker room a little bit. Like when our shots aren’t falling and we’re not getting great offensive flow, we can’t let that affect the defensive side of the floor. But we know the adjustments we need to make, and we will make them going forward.”

The unwavering support from the home crowd was a highlight for the Valkyries. “I mean, it’s honestly incredible,” Martin said of the Chase Center atmosphere. “When you have a fan base just stick through the highs and lows of the games and, you know, cheer you on. Like, it really does bring us energy.” Burton echoed that sentiment, adding, “It’s a testament to the community here, the investment that they’ve poured into us, the organization. And so we’re grateful, and it just challenges us and it raises us to a new level.”

The Valkyries will look to regroup quickly as they head to Phoenix to face the Mercury on Thursday. With the energy of their fans and the determination to bounce back, Golden State remains poised to learn from this hard-fought game and grow stronger in the weeks ahead.

For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit www.valkyries.wnba.com.

GAME NOTES

• The Valkyries are the first WNBA franchise to have an attendance of 18,000+ in each of their first three home games.
• Golden State falls to 0-1 in the Commissioner's Cup.