Golden State Valkyries clinch playoff berth: Takeaways from milestone win

Show Caption SAN FRANCISCO ― The Golden State Valkyries clinched a postseason berth after a 78-70 victory against the Dallas Wings on Monday, Aug. 17. This was their sixth consecutive win, showcasing a dominant performance. The atmosphere was electric, with over 18,000 fans at Chase Center—known as Ballhalla—adding to the intensity. The Valkyries executed a defense-first strategy, forcing 18 turnovers from the Wings and holding them to just 22% three-point shooting. Golden State’s offense was led by Gabby Williams with 23 points and six rebounds, while Veronica Burton contributed 16 points, five assists, and four rebounds. The team’s bench players, including Tiffany Hayes, Kaitlyn Chen, and Janelle Salaun, each scored 10 points, helping the second unit outscore Dallas’ bench 27-12. The victory marked the Valkyries’ second consecutive postseason appearance and their 25th win of the season, tying a franchise record. Their 25-9 record is the second-best in the WNBA. The team is now the third to secure a playoff spot this season, joining the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces. Coach Natalie Nakase praised the team’s culture and effort. Williams noted, ‘I’m more excited about how we’ve done it more than us doing it. I knew we were going to do it since I got here, but I didn’t expect us to do it this way and have this much fun.’ The team’s defensive resilience and chemistry were highlighted, with Nakase calling the second-quarter defense ‘not good’ but praising overall composure. Takeaways from the game include the Valkyries’ defensive-first mindset, their ability to rotate players effectively, and their team culture. However, they struggled defensively in the second half, allowing Dallas to score 24 points in the fourth quarter. Paige Bueckers had a strong second-half performance, scoring 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting, contrasting her first-half performance of 1-for-7.