Lynx Strong 4th Quarter Sinks Valkyries Down to #8 Playoff Seed

In order to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Valkyries will now be facing the best in the first round of the playoffs.

Golden State closed their regular season on Thursday night with a tough 72-53 road loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis, setting up a rematch between the two teams in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs. The defeat locked Valkyries into the No. 8 seed, ensuring that they will face top-seeded Minnesota again on Sunday in a best-of-three series.

While the final score reflected a challenging night for the Valkyries, the game offered plenty of lessons and moments that will fuel their preparation for the postseason.

Golden State’s shooting struggles defined the night, as the team missed its first 16 three-point attempts and went just 3-for-27 from long range overall. Despite the frigid shooting, the Valkyries stayed competitive deep into the second half thanks to timely defense and relentless effort on the boards.

Iliana Rupert finally broke the team’s long-distance drought late in the third quarter, drilling back-to-back threes that cut Minnesota’s lead to just four, 45-41, with under 90 seconds left in the period. She finished with eight points and eight rebounds, highlighted by those crucial triples.

While Valkyries fans sensed a momentum shift, Minnesota’s poise and experience allowed them to withstand the run and put the game out of reach with a 12-0 surge to start the fourth quarter.

Janelle Salaün anchored Golden State’s effort in the paint, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds, eight of them defensive, while chipping in five points.

Veronica Burton continued her excellent two-way play with seven assists and a career-high-tying five steals, along with eight points and a perfect 4-for-4 night from the free-throw line.

Kaila Charles added eight points and seven rebounds in the start.

Monique Billings reached a personal milestone with six points, surpassing 1,500 for her career.

Cecilia Zandalasini scored eight points in 22 energetic minutes off the bench. Golden State made the most of its trips to the stripe, converting 80 percent (12-for-15) of its free throws.

Head Coach Natalie Nakase remained upbeat about the team’s trajectory heading into the playoffs, focusing on the positives from the game. “Yeah, make shots, which we are capable of,” Nakase said postgame. “We had a lot of good looks, I thought we moved the ball really well. We do have to take care of it a little bit better. But we just have to make shots. I know the capability of our players. We work on our threes all the time. So I'm really hopeful. It's not like we have to completely change a ton of things and completely embrace and learn about a new team. So I'm taking this as a positive, and we get to stay here.”

Golden State’s defense was a bright spot, holding Minnesota to 72 points despite committing four offensive fouls that Nakase noted were costly possessions. “Playoffs are about physicality,” Nakase said. “So that's where I'm going to go back and see, what is the level of physicality that's going to have to happen in the next couple of games? Because I know the playoffs become physical.”

Veronica Burton credited Minnesota’s defense but emphasized the Valkyries’ confidence heading into Sunday. “A combination of both, they're a very good defensive team, and they executed their defensive game plan really well,” she said. “I also do think shots weren't falling. A lot of shots that we normally hit, some good looks, just didn't fall.”

Kaila Charles echoed that sentiment, noting that most of the adjustments are within the team’s control: “So if we get the extra stops, if we get the rebounds, if we just hit a few more shots, it would have been a different game… we'll watch the film and be better Sunday.”

The loss served as a reminder of how slim the margins can be against a top-seeded opponent, but also as a glimpse of the Valkyries’ potential when they are locked in defensively.

As Burton put it, “We know every single team in this league is beatable. We can compete with anyone and when we're doing what we talked about doing, when we're connected and on the same page, for sure we're confident.”

Golden State enters the playoffs embracing their identity as a tough, scrappy defensive team, knowing that their grit and ability to disrupt opponents can rattle even the league’s best when the games matter most. Especially in a short three-game series even against the WNBA's top seed, anything can happen.

UP NEXT

• Golden State stays in Minnesota to take on the Lynx in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs. Game one tips off on Sunday, September 14.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.