We're getting to that point in the season where it's utterly foolish to keep overlooking the Golden State Valkyries. The team, whose first season in the WNBA was merely a year ago, entered Wednesday's matchup against the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx on a six-game win streak while sitting at 2nd place in league standings.
On Monday, the Valkyries clinched its second playoff berth in franchise history with a rather dominant win against the Dallas Wings, despite how close the final score (78-70) looked. For weeks now, Golden State has flexed its depth with eye-catching performances by reserves Janelle Salaün, Tiffany Hayes, and Kaitlyn Chen, but Monday's win was a much needed reminder that when the duo of Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams are both at their best, there's almost no stopping this Valkyries team.
On Monday, Williams took over on both ends of the floor — as she's made a name for herself for doing — and recorded 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a stunning four steals in 32 minutes on the floor. This was the first time the forward played 25 minutes or more since before the All-Star break, and the first time she's played more than 30 since June 24th against the Dream (also the last game she eclipsed the 20-point mark). Williams got to her spots both in and outside of the arc with ease and played lockdown defense on Wings star Paige Bueckers, who started the game 1-7 from the floor and went scoreless for more than a quarter.
Burton scored 16 points of her own while dishing five assists, grabbing four rebounds, and recording two steals. Towards the end of the game especially, the point guard went unconcious from deep, burying consecutive threes to put away a Dallas squad that was threatening to fight its way back.
These offensive performances, paired with the suffocating defense of the Valkyries and scoring from Salaün and Hayes, posed a nearly insurmountable challenge for Dallas, especially in the team's current state.
How far can this Valkyries team go?
Even though the Valkyries have been near the top of the W's standings for the whole season, there seem to be many doubts about what this team can actually do come post-season. The concerns are rooted in valid thinking, for the most part: Golden State has built its identity in defense, and the Williams/Burton aren't exactly offensive powerhouses. Defense wins championships, yes, but you need to put the ball in the net if you want to have a fighting chance at taking down the best.
Wednesday's game against the Lynx highlighted some of these issues. Before the fourth quarter, the Valkyries struggled greatly to create opportunities to score, and when they did, the shots didn't fall. They started the game 6-30 from the field–basically every player not named Veronica Burton couldn't buy a bucket for a while there.
"We can't come out and expect to win any game against...the Minnesota Lynx when we don't play a full game," said Burton.
The thing is, Williams and Burton, as well as the rest of the Valkyries, are entirely capable of scoring at a championship level, and when they do, it's scary for other teams.
As Williams said after a July win against the Washington Mystics (the team the Valkyries would play in the first round in the playoffs if the regular season ended today), "I just love that we win in so many different ways and in so many different situations....We're winning when it's easier, winning when it's hard, when we're on the road, when we're home, when we start great, when we don't start great. We're just always finding a way, and I just love that about us.”
There's absolutely a reality in which the Williams and Burton play at their best come the post-season and make a deep playoff run: it all comes down to a bit of luck and the proper preparation for the moment, which coach Natalie Nakase seems well-versed in.
Lynx, Aces may be Golden State's downfall
It really hinges on matchups, which ironically is one of Nakase's favorite things to say ahead of any game she coaches. Here are the facts: in the franchise's two years, the Valkyries are 0-7 vs. the Lynx and 1-7 vs. the Las Vegas Aces. Given the near impossibility of both of the aforementioned teams being eliminated before seeing Golden State on the road to a championship, it may not be in the cards for the Valkyries to win a championship this year.
Still, there's nothing wrong with a little bit of hope, especially when its based in undeniable truths. The Valkyries have stared down some of basketball's toughest opponents and emerged victorious: why must the magic end in the playoffs?
Add us as a preferred source on Google