Valkyries Shut Down Bueckers, Snap 3-Game Losing Streak in 90-81 Win.

Golden State came into the game with only eight healthy players available, but it didn’t matter.

Short-handed and road-weary, the Valkyries leaned on their resilience and a record-setting performance from Veronica Burton to secure a crucial late-season 90-81 victory over the Dallas Wings. The statement win snapped a three-game skid, keeping their playoff hopes alive.

Golden State opened with poise and intensity, ripping off the game’s first seven points and racing to a 12-2 advantage before Dallas could find its rhythm.

All five Golden State starters scored in the opening minutes and the team forced the Wings into eight straight missed field goals to start the contest. By the end of the first quarter, the Valkyries had buried five three-pointers and built a double-digit lead.

The Wings, however, clawed back in the second quarter. Even as the Valkyries defense completely stifled rookie star Paige Bueckers, holding her scoreless for the first half, Dallas found offense from unexpected sources.

Bench contributors Myisha Hines-Allen and Amy Okonkwo combined for 17 points in the frame, outscoring Golden State by themselves. Dallas flipped the script with a 26-13 quarter and carried a 38-36 lead into halftime, one of just a handful of times all season the Wings had the advantage after two quarters.

The Valkyries answered with composure in the third, taking control of the game behind Burton’s floor direction and Iliana Rupert’s sharpshooting.

Rupert drained a pair of threes during a 12-2 surge that turned the tide, part of her career-best five makes from long range. She finished with 17 points and six rebounds, tying her career scoring high.

Burton, meanwhile, began to heat up after a quiet first half, scoring 10 points in the period as Golden State outscored Dallas 25-17 to enter the final quarter up 61-55.

The momentum carried into the fourth. A quick burst, capped by a deep 26-foot three-pointer from Kate Martin, pushed the Valkyries’ lead to double digits.

From there, Golden State never looked back, ballooning the advantage to as many as 15 points.

Burton dominated the closing stretch, tallying 21 of her 25 points in the second half while also facilitating for her teammates. The point guard’s final stat line made WNBA history, as she became the only player ever to record at least 25 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, and four blocks in a single game.

“Whatever we ask for V, she executes,” head coach Natalie Nakase said afterward. “She’s probably one of the toughest players I’ve ever coached. She’s our heartbeat, but she’s also our leader.”

Burton’s leadership extended beyond the numbers. She went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line, continuing her streak of 28 consecutive makes, and set the tone for a flawless team performance at the stripe. The Valkyries went 18-for-18 overall, the second time this season they’ve shot perfectly from the line.

Their hot shooting wasn’t limited there, Golden State buried a season-high 16 three-pointers on 42 percent shooting, with Rupert and Martin combining for nine of them.

The win was a collective effort despite the short bench. Kaila Charles, starting for the first time as a Valkyrie and against her former team, seized her opportunity. She tied her career high with 16 points on 50 percent shooting while also being tasked with guarding Bueckers. That defensive assignment proved pivotal, as Bueckers, who had erupted for 44 points two games ago, managed only nine on 3-for-12 shooting and never found her rhythm.

“Her defense! We matched her up with Paige,” Nakase said of Charles. “But at the end of the day it was a team defense, so credit to our whole team being locked in because she’s just not easy to cover.”

The Valkyries’ ability to neutralize star guards has become a trend. Earlier this season, Golden State held Indiana’s Caitlin Clark and New York’s Sabrina Ionescu well below their scoring averages. Adding Bueckers to that list highlights the defensive identity Nakase has instilled in her squad, one that continues to fuel wins when depth is tested.

Charles reflected on the significance of her night against Dallas. “I started the season here and to be cut was sad but it also gave me the opportunity to get picked up by (Golden State). I’m really glad that I was able to get the win with my team and do well and help them.”

Other contributions bolstered the effort as well. Martin added 12 points off the bench, hitting four threes and grabbing five rebounds.

Temi Fágbénlé and Janelle Salaün both chipped in nine points and nine boards apiece, providing balance and toughness inside.

Golden State shared the ball beautifully, tallying 24 assists on 28 made field goals, a testament to their unselfish play.

For the Wings, Maddy Siegrist led the way with 16 points, but Bueckers’ struggles proved too much to overcome.

After snapping their skid and picking up their second win over Dallas this season, the Valkyries sit in the eighth seed, controlling their own destiny heading into the season's final stretch.

The playoff race remains razor-thin, with four teams, Seattle, Golden State, Indiana, and Los Angeles, all sitting on 18 losses and battling for just three postseason spots. The Valkyries hold head-to-head tiebreakers over both Indiana and the Sparks.

“It’s coming down to playoff basketball,” Burton said. “So every win really matters and every game is super important, and I think we understand that.”

“With only a handful of games remaining, every possession and every win carries extra weight for Golden State. As they continue battling for the final playoff spot, the Valkyries are showing that grit, defense, and timely leadership, even in the face of adversity, may be enough to carry them into the postseason.

UP NEXT

• Golden State returns to Ballhalla on Saturday, August 30 to take on the Washington Mystics at 5:30 p.m. PT on KPIX+, KMAX, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.