Valkyries One Win From Playoffs: Must Beat Wings Tonight
Portland Fire Spoil the Party: Valkyries Wait One More Day for Playoff Ticket
The Big Picture
Imagine you’re about to win a golden ticket to the championship tournament. You’re ready to celebrate—but then another team wins their game, and you have to wait one more day. That’s exactly what happened to the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday night!
The Portland Fire (a brand-new expansion team) pulled off a stunning 88-85 comeback victory over the Phoenix Mercury. This win meant the Valkyries couldn’t officially clinch their playoff spot just yet—but don’t worry, it’s coming very soon!
What Happened in Phoenix?
The Game Story
| Quarter | Mercury | Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 22 | 18 |
| Halftime | 42 | 36 |
| End of Q3 | 64 | 61 |
| Final | 85 | 88 |
Key Moments
- Slow Start – Phoenix jumped ahead early behind DeWanna Bonner (14 first-half points) and Alyssa Thomas
- Fire Fight Back – Frieda Buhner and DiLeo hit crucial 3-pointers late in the third quarter
- The Final Stretch – Carla Leite scored the last two baskets in a game-changing 6-0 run
- Clutch Free Throw – Katie Lou Samuelson sank a pressure free throw with 20 seconds left to make it 84-82
Important Point: Carla Leite led all scorers with 23 points in just her second career start!
A Night of Mixed Emotions
The game happened during a special ceremony weekend for Phoenix legend Diana Taurasi—one of the greatest players in WNBA history. The Mercury honored her at halftime and after the game, but Portland’s victory put a damper on the celebrations.
Why the Valkyries Are So Good This Year
Even though they have to wait one more day, Golden State is having an incredible season (24-9 record, 2nd place in the league). Here’s their secret sauce:
Elite Defense (Best in the League!)
- Fewest points allowed: 76.9 per game
- Best defensive rating: 102.9
- Fewest field goals allowed: 26.7 per game
- Fewest assists allowed: 18.3 per game
Key Players Making a Difference
| Player | Role | Why They Matter |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Nakase | Head Coach | Defensive mastermind |
| Gabby Williams | All-Star Forward | Two-way superstar addition |
| Veronica Burton | Guard | Improved playmaking |
| Janelle Salaun | Forward | Growing into a key contributor |
| Kaitlyn Chen | Guard | Steady development |
| Kiah Stokes | Center | Rim protector (filling in for injured Iliana Rupert) |
Injury Alert: Kiah Stokes missed Wednesday’s game with a concussion and is day-to-day.
What Happens Next?
The Magic Number: ONE
The Valkyries can officially punch their playoff ticket Monday night when they host the Dallas Wings at Chase Center.
The Math (Simplified!)
- Current record: 24-9 (2nd place)
- Games left: 11
- Portland record: 15-20 (9th place)
- Portland games left: 9
Translation: Golden State would need to lose ALL remaining games while Portland wins ALL of theirs for the Valkyries to miss the playoffs. That’s not happening!
Playoff Format Refresher
- Top 8 teams make the playoffs
- Top 4 teams get home-court advantage in Round 1
- First round = best-of-three series
- Last year: Valkyries were the #8 seed and lost 2-0 to #1 Minnesota Lynx
Coming Up: International Break
The WNBA pauses from August 31 – September 16 for international competition. Several Valkyries (including Gabby Williams) will play for their national teams during this time.
Summary
- Portland Fire stunned Phoenix Mercury 88-85 behind Carla Leite’s 23 points
- Golden State Valkyries (24-9) must wait one more day to clinch playoff spot
- Valkyries have the league’s best defense under coach Natalie Nakase
- Monday vs. Dallas Wings = clinching opportunity at Chase Center
- International break coming soon (Aug 31 – Sept 16)
FAQ
1. What is an "expansion team"?
An expansion team is a brand-new franchise playing its first season in the league. The Portland Fire are brand new this year!
2. How many teams make the WNBA playoffs?
Eight teams qualify for the postseason out of 12 total teams.
3. Why is Diana Taurasi such a big deal?
She’s widely considered the greatest women’s basketball player ever—a 3-time WNBA champion, 6-time Olympic gold medalist, and the league’s all-time leading scorer.
4. What does "day-to-day" mean for Kiah Stokes?
It means she’s being evaluated daily and could return to play at any time—there’s no long-term timetable.
5. Can Portland still make the playoffs?
Technically yes, but they’d need to win all 9 remaining games while Golden State loses all 11. Extremely unlikely!
Thanks for reading! The Valkyries’ playoff party is just delayed—not cancelled.