Revenge Game: Valkyries Hunt Lynx for Redemption
The Golden State Valkyries: Great Defense, But Can They Score Enough to Win a Championship?
The Big Picture: A Team Built on "We," Not "Me"
Imagine a basketball team where nobody is the obvious superstar, but everyone plays their heart out on defense. That’s the Golden State Valkyries in a nutshell.
In just their second year, they’ve stormed to a 25-9 record—one of the best in the WNBA. Their secret? A team-first philosophy coached by Natalie Nakase. They don’t have a single player averaging 30 minutes a game. Instead, they share the ball, share the minutes, and suffocate opponents on defense.
Important Point: The Valkyries lead the entire league in defensive rating and fewest points allowed per game. They are officially the toughest team to score against.
The "Everybody Eats" Offense
On offense, the Valkyries play a style called "ride the hot hand."
- No set plays for one superstar.
- If Veronica Burton is hitting shots, she gets the ball.
- If Gabby Williams is driving well, she takes over.
- Rookie Kaitlyn Chen? She gets a look too.
Against most teams, this works beautifully. They’ve ripped off winning streaks of 9 games and 6 games this season. Their defense covers up offensive off-nights.
The Reality Check: Meeting the Minnesota Lynx
Then came the Minnesota Lynx—a team built around superstars.
| Lynx Stars | What They Did |
|---|---|
| Napheesa Collier | Scored 18 points on tough, contested fadeaways |
| Olivia Miles | Dropped 20 points + 8 assists, controlling the game |
The Lynx didn’t care about the Valkyries’ "hand in the face" defense. Elite shot-makers make shots even when defended perfectly. Minnesota won 77-66 at Chase Center (nicknamed "Valkatraz" by guard Tiffany Hayes).
The Stumble Against Chicago
You’d think the Valkyries would bounce back against the struggling Chicago Sky. They didn’t.
- Offense cratered for a whole half.
- Sydney Taylor hit a heartbreaking step-back winner.
- Final score: 73-70 Sky.
Two losses in a row. Momentum? Gone.
The Core Problem: No "Easy Button" on Offense
Here’s the neon-sign-big issue: The Valkyries cannot create easy shots.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
| Stat | Rank (out of 15 teams) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive Rating | 7th (110.4) | Middle of the pack |
| Points Per Game | 3rd Fewest (82.5) | They don’t score much |
| Pace | Slowest | They walk the ball up, face set defenses |
The "Shot Difficulty" Data
The WNBA tracks expected field goal percentage based on shot difficulty. Four Valkyries regulars rank in the bottom 12 league-wide:
- Ceci Zandalasini – Bottom 10
- Janelle Salaün – Bottom 10
- Veronica Burton – Bottom 10
- Gabby Williams – 12th lowest
Translation: These players are forced to take really hard shots—contested, off-the-dribble, late in the shot clock. And no one on the roster consistently creates easy looks for others.
Gabby Williams: The Reluctant Star
Gabry Williams has been amazing—a free-agent steal. She’s an elite defender and a "Swiss Army knife" who does everything.
But here’s the catch: She’s being asked to be the #1 offensive creator for the first time in her career.
- Start of season: 40% from 3-point range
- Now: 33.1% from 3
- vs. Chicago: 0-for-6 in 14 minutes → benched for "fresh legs"
Coach Nakase admitted: "Teams are obviously targeting her defensively."
And no championship team benches their best offensive player in a close game. The Aces don’t sit A’ja Wilson. The Lynx don’t sit Collier. The Fever don’t sit their stars. That’s the difference between a "great role player" and a "franchise cornerstone."
The Missed Opportunity: Kelsey Plum
When Kelsey Plum (20+ PPG career scorer) was on the trade market, the Valkyries didn’t beat Phoenix’s offer.
At the time, it looked smart—why disrupt the chemistry?
Now? It looks like the missing piece.
What Happens in the Playoffs?
Playoff basketball = slower, tighter, smarter defenses.
- Set defenses everywhere.
- No transition easy buckets.
- You NEED someone who can score 1-on-1 or draw double-teams.
The Lynx, Aces, and Fever have that guy/gal.
The Valkyries… don’t. Not yet.
The Good News: They’re Close
Despite everything, the Valkyries gave the Lynx a real fight. They have:
- Elite defense
- Deep, unselfish rotation
- Smart coaching
- Toughness (Hayes loves playoff-intensity games)
One more loss ≠ panic.
It = a giant neon sign flashing: "GO GET A STAR."
Summary: The Valkyries’ Crossroads
| What They Have | What They Need |
|---|---|
| Best defense in WNBA | A true #1 offensive creator |
| Deep, unselfish roster | Someone who draws double-teams |
| Winning culture | A closer for crunch time |
| Coach of the Year candidate | A star who stays on the floor in big moments |
The window is open. The front office has a clear mission: Do whatever it takes to find a star. Because defense wins games—but offense wins championships.
FAQ: Your Valkyries Questions Answered
Why doesn’t the "team-first" offense work against the best teams?
Great question! Against average teams, ball movement + defense wins. But elite defenses (like Minnesota’s) take away your first, second, and third options. You need a player who can say "I got this" and create a good shot out of nothing. The Valkyries don’t have that guy/gal yet.
Is Gabby Williams a bust?
Absolutely not! She’s having a career year and is an All-Defensive Team lock. The problem isn’t her talent—it’s role mismatch. She’s a perfect #2 or #3 option being forced into the #1 spot. That’s a roster construction issue, not a player issue.
Why play so slow? Wouldn’t faster pace help?
Counter-intuitively, no. Speeding up plays into their weakness: half-court offense. By playing slow, they control chaos, limit possessions, and let their defense dominate. It’s a smart strategy for this roster. But it caps their ceiling.
Could a trade still happen this season?
The trade deadline has passed. But the offseason is where the real work happens. Expect the Valkyries to be aggressive in free agency and trades—they have assets, cap flexibility, and a winning culture to sell.
Should fans panic after two losses?
Nope. Two losses to good teams (one a title contender, one a trap game) ≠ crisis. It’s data. The Valkyries are legit contenders right now. But to go from "contender" to "champion," the front office must solve the star-power equation this summer.
Final Thought: The Valkyries have built something rare and beautiful—a true team in a superstar league. But basketball history is clear: You need a superstar to cut the nets. The journey from "great story" to "champions" starts with one bold move.