Caitlin Clark and WNBA officiating grabbed headlines after the Indiana Fever's 88-75 loss to the Golden State Valkyries last night, but there's an overlooked story from the game. Golden State capped off a five-game road trip with an 88-75 win to win its eighth game in a row, which is the longest winning streak this season.
Gabby Williams led the Valkyries in scoring with 16 points, but it was the team's stifling defense that held the Fever's top stars in check.
It was another example of how Golden State's bet on team chemistry has paid off, and head coach Natalie Nakase noted postgame that her side continued to grow closer during their road trip.
The Valkyries went one game behind the Minnesota Lynx for the best record in the WNBA. They are a legit title contender, and that should be the headline.
Golden State just finds ways to win
The Valkyries are a top-two defense in the league and a middle-of-the-road offense in advanced metrics.
It's why there was some worry that the game was pulling away from them when the Fever went on a run in the third quarter. The Indiana crowd was getting into the game, and it felt like Stephanie White's side "figured out" Golden State's defense.
However, Kaitlyn Chen scored 12 of her 14 points near the end of the third quarter, which helped the Valkyries control the fourth quarter. It was a remarkable maturity not often seen from a second-year franchise.
"Our composure," Williams told reporters on what she is most proud of during Golden State's win streak, per the Valkyries. "Road games almost always are ugly. You're never going to have a game where everything is going in, and you're getting all the calls. Obviously, the crowd's not with you. ... Road games are always ugly, so us being able to win in these environments just sets us off in the second half of the season and playoffs."
This team has so many levers to pull
What Wednesday's win also highlighted is that the Valkyries could take home some hardware after the season. Williams noted that they have multiple players who could win Sixth Player of the Year, which showed how Nakase has so many options depending on the matchup.
There's the aforementioned Chen, who continued to show her value as a backup guard. The Valkyries are the worst team in paint scoring, but Chen is one of the few players on the roster who can attack the basket and create rim pressure to open up the shooters.
Janelle Salaun is the betting favorite to win Sixth Player of the Year, and her 3-point shooting and value in Golden State's small-ball lineups really open up the team's ceiling. Nakase told reporters postgame that she went with Tiffany Hayes in crunch time because of her defense and ball-handling.
This is a team with a lot of depth, and unlike other title contenders, have figured out who they are.
They are on track to secure homecourt advantage in the postseason, and their versatility, combined with a solid mix of veterans and young players, will make the Valkyries the toughest out in the playoffs.
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