Valkyries begin road swing with loss to Minnesota

The Golden State Valkyries had already lost once to the Minnesota Lynx, so they knew what they were getting into to start a four-game road swing Saturday night.

This time the game was at Target Center, where the Lynx are the lone unbeaten home team in the WNBA.

Different venue, same result. Minnesota pulled away in the late third and early fourth quarters for an 82-71 win, improving their league-best record to 16-2 and 10-0 at home. The Valkyries also lost by 11 (86-75) on June 1 at Chase Center.

Forward Napheesa Collier, the WNBA’s leading scorer coming in at 24.6 points per game, led the Lynx with 22 points, with Courtney Williams adding 15.

Tiffany Hayes scored a career-high 23 points for the Valkyries, with Kayla Thornton adding 13 and Stephanie Talbot 10. Golden State is 9-8, and in the next three games have road assignments in Atlanta, Indianapolis and Las Vegas.

Hayes was 5-for-6 from 3-point land, including one after losing a shoe.

Golden State coach Natalie Nakase has made it clear from the outset the Valkyries will specialize in defensive disruption and hustle plays. The defense allowed too many layups from Collier in particular.

“We’re not measuring it like they’re the best team in the league. We measure it with us,” Golden State coach Valerie Nakase said in her post game press conference. “We did not start off defensively great. We gave up a 25-point (first) quarter. We didn’t even touch them, even physically pick them up. So we know where we have to be better.”

After trailing for most of the first half after starting with an 8-4 lead, the Valkyries scrambled back in it and even took the lead. Golden State tied it on a running layup by Temi Fagbenle and then on a layup by Talbot to make it 56-54 with 4:42 left in the third quarter.

That’s when Minnesota took charge closing the quarter on a 15-4 run and then scoring the first six points of the fourth quarter as well. A 3-point basket by Bridget Carleton pushed the lead to 75-60 with 5:51 to play.

“They’re a really good team, but so are we,” guard Kate Martin said on the KPIX postgame show. “There’s a lot of little things we could have done better. We gave up too many offensive boards in the second half. There are definitely things to clean up, but it’s a long road trip ahead of us and we’re going to learn from it and move on.”

Minnesota led by as many as 10 points in the first half but the Valkyries closed it to 41-36 when they held the Lynx without a shot on their last possession.

Thornton had 13 points and Hayes 10, with Collier scoring 11 in the first half for Minnesota.

It wasn’t until 7:34 remained in the second quarter that a player other than Thornton or Hayes scored a point. It came when Kate Martin hit a baseline 3-pointer to cut Minnesota’s lead to 31-24. At that point Thornton had 11 points and Hill 10.

“I think we came out a little flat in the first quarter defensively especially, and they knocked down some shots,” Talbot told KPIX. “You watch the film, learn from it, then take what we did well and build on it. We’ll feel this one, then move on to the next.”

Now 2-5 on the road, the Valkyries realize they’re in a crucial stretch.

“We just use that hostility that’s going against us,” Nakase said. “Just either block it out, or you think they’re cheering for us. I think that’s how our players see it.”

Martin said the fans at Chase Center are their sixth player, but added, “the energy has to come from within. It shouldn’t matter if we’re playing at home, away, we should show up and present ourselves in the same exact way. This was a big game for us, and we let it slip. That stinks, but we’re going to have come back and bring our own energy.”

First technical for Nakase

With 5:51 left in the third quarter and the Lynx trailing 62-58, Nakase received her first technical foul and said it was by design.

“I wanted to get one,” Nakase said. “I felt like we were not getting a great whistle in terms of the physicality. If I don’t say anything, then either my girls are going to get one or get injured. So I did that to let the refs know, let’s everyone step away healthy.”

Happy for Vanloo

Guard Julie Vanloo, waived by the Valkyries upon her return from representing Belgium in EuroBasket 2025, was signed by the Los Angeles Sparks, which was good news to Nakase.

“I’m happy for her,” Nakase said. “She deserves to be in this league. I’m just so happy for her and we wish her all the best.”

The Valkyries went 5-2 in Vanloo’s absence.