Nobody could have predicted the magnificent inaugural campaign that the rookie head coach, Natalie Nakase, and the Golden State Valkyries have managed to put together. With an impressive 23-21 record, they became the first-ever expansion franchise to reach the playoffs.
Nevertheless, their WNBA Playoff debut did not align with the fairytale year that the Valkyries had recently created, as they were put to the sword in a resounding 72-101 defeat to the Minnesota Lynx.
The relentless scoring power of Napheesa Collier (20 points), supplemented by an essential reserve contribution from Natisha Hiedeman (18 points) proved to be too much for Golden State to handle. However, it would be too simplistic to state that the Lynx's overwhelming quality was the sole reason for the defeat, as the absence of one of the Valkyries' star players played a prominent role. The Valkyries have been without Tiffany Hayes since late August.
Tiffany Hayes' absence was painfully obvious
Squad depth is something that the league's newcomers have not been able to boast in 2025—which is hardly a surprise due to the complexity of constructing a roster from scratch. Because of this, coach Nakase has heavily relied on a small pool of players to play a large percentage of the available minutes, including the experienced Tiffany Hayes.
Hayes has provided an extra dimension to an offense that has prioritized shooting from deep and spacing the floor. During the 26 games that she played in, the UConn graduate averaged 11.7 points per game while shooting 40% from 3-point range.
Hayes usually plays a starring role for the Valkyries, carrying a lot of the scoring load. However, the 35-year-old continues to be plagued by a left knee injury that she suffered during a recent matchup with the Phoenix Mercury, and fans are still waiting for a positive update that the guard will appear in Game 2 of the first round.
One thing that was evident during the loss to the Lynx was an inability to score from outside the perimeter, with only Janelle Salaün effectively contributing from deep. The French star buried three of her seven shots from three-point range, while Veronica Burton could only manage three from nine attempts.
Altering their destiny in the second matchup with Minnesota, won’t be easy for the Valkyries if Hayes won’t be available. Even if she will be, it would be difficult for a star who lacks match fitness to bridge a 29-point deficit against a team that will be expecting a deep postseason run.