The Atlanta Dream became the second team to close out their first-round series with a big win in Washington. The Golden State Valkyries had an opportunity to do the same. After a dominant Game 1 victory, they seemed poised to sweep the Dallas Wings.
They did almost everything they needed to pull off the sweep. They held Paige Bueckers and Jessica Shepard to a combined 14 points and 10 assists, shot 44% from deep, and scored almost 100 points in regulation behind a big game from Gabby Williams.
However, they didn’t bring their usual defensive intensity to Dallas. While they limited Bueckers and Shepard, they let the Wings shoot 50% from the floor and 52% from deep, and allowed Arike Ogwunbowale to go off for a record-setting 45 points. Ogunbowale took almost as many free throws as the entire Valkyries team combined.
“Our energy was different,” Gabby Williams said when asked what changed compared to previous matchups with Dallas in the postgame media availability. “I didn’t recognize us tonight. I don’t think any of us did.”
The Valkyries had dominated the Wings in every single game before Game 2 this season. Failing to take care of business against a team that had been a good matchup for them when Bueckers didn’t have a great game could haunt the Valkyries.
Not closing the series out in Game 2 could come back to bite the Valkyries
The most obvious reason for regret here is that the Valkyries now have to play a do-or-die Game 3 against an energized and confident Wings team. Winning a game like this in overtime, when Paige Bueckers shot 3-of-13 from the field and Jessica Shepard wasn’t impactful either, is a huge accomplishment. The Valkyries have a great home-court advantage, but it could be a brutal final game, especially if Bueckers can play better now that the Valkyries will have to divide their defensive attention on the perimeter between her and Ogunbowale. Their clutch execution on both ends of the floor will be tested, and their offensive didn’t look great down the stretch in Game 2.
Even if the Valkyries take care of business in Game 3 and advance, this Game 2 loss could come back to haunt them. If they advance, they will face the winner of the Las Vegas Aces-Indiana Fever matchup. We already know that series is going to three games. Closing out the Wings in two games would have given the Valkyries a rest advantage in the semifinals.
If their next opponent ends up being the Aces, the Valkyries need every advantage they can get. They haven’t beaten the Aces all season long, losing all three regular-season matchups.
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