New York Liberty Edge Golden State Valkyries 81-78 in Narrow WNBA Clash

The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion WNBA team owned by Joe Lacob, are off to a promising start in their inaugural season, currently holding a 7-7 record and aiming to make the playoffs. In a closely contested game at Chase Center, the Valkyries narrowly lost 81-78 to the defending champion New York Liberty, despite a career-high 21 points from Valkyries guard Kate Martin and a strong defensive effort that limited Liberty star Breanna Stewart's second-half impact. The Liberty, led by Stewart's 23 points and 10 rebounds and Sabrina Ionescu's perfect 8-for-8 free throw shooting, secured the win with late-game free throws and a critical steal by Ionescu. The Valkyries have demonstrated resilience, matching the Liberty throughout most of the game and showing defensive prowess by shutting down key players in the second half. While the Valkyries struggle with shooting percentages, they lead the league in rebounding and rank high in steals, reflecting their hustle and energy. The Liberty, despite recent injuries and a tough stretch, have maintained dominance over Golden State, sweeping the season series so far and aiming to continue their strong road performance.