The Golden State Valkyries went from the number-eight seed that just edged out the Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot to the number-two seed just one year later. They did it on the back of their defense.
The Valkyries finished the regular season with the best defensive rating in the WNBA. In September, they put together a stretch of six games in which they held their opponents to under 70 points. Their offense, on the other hand, was middling at best. They finished seventh in offensive rating, lived and died by their ability to knock down 3-pointers, and never scored 100 points until the playoffs.
So, the biggest question about the Valkyries’ postseason potential was whether they would be able to score enough when the defensive intensity picks up and teams have a chance to zero in on their tendencies and make adjustments between games. They have answered that question with a resounding yes.
The Valkyries currently have the best offensive rating in the playoffs, edging out the Atlanta Dream, their finals opponents, for the top spot.
The Valkyries’ offense reached another level at the perfect time
The Valkyries played the Dallas Wings and Las Vegas Aces in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Neither team excelled defensively, but that shouldn’t take anything away from the offensive leap the Valkyries made. They averaged 87 points per game and shot 37.3% from deep, making 10.5 3-pointers per game. Only the New York Liberty made more, with 11. The Valkyries also averaged almost 17 assists per game in the first two rounds.
The driving force behind that offensive turnaround is Gabby Williams, who averaged 22.7 points on 44.9% shooting from the field and 40.5% from three, over the first six games. Tiffany Hayes has also been invaluable, emerging as the team’s second-leading scorer despite coming off the bench. Moreover, Kayla Thornton looks healthier than she has all season after suffering a knee injury last year. She scored 18 points to put away the Aces in Game 3.
The Valkyries’ real superpower on both ends of the floor has been their depth. If, for example, Cecilia Zandalasini doesn’t have it on one night, Natalie Nakase can go to Kaila Charles, Hayes, or Janelle Salaün. If Veronica Burton isn’t at her best, Kaitlyn Chen can come in and play quality minutes. If Kiah Stokes needs a break, Aminata Gueye can hold her own for at least a few minutes.
Opponents cannot just shut down two or three Valkyries players and expect that it will stifle their offense. While Williams is the head of the snake, any Valkyries player can drop 15 or 20 points on you any given night.
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