SAN JOSE – As soon as Lynx guard Courtney Williams rose by the electrified playoff air at SAP Heart late within the fourth quarter, nothing the Valkyries did mattered within the WNBA playoff sport.
Natalie Nakase’s tactical brilliance? Negated.
The delirious crowd who had migrated 47 miles from San Francisco to San Jose? Helplessly watching.
The league-leading Golden State protection who had held groups to a WNBA-low 76.3 factors per sport? Unable to do a darn factor in opposition to the very best crew within the league in a 75-74 season-ending victory.
“That’s just her money shot,” Minnesota’s Kayla McBride stated. “That’s just who Courtney is … she made a big time play.”
As a result of that’s what stars do. They make performs out of nothing, win video games with particular person brilliance, ship in key moments in opposition to good groups.
And that’s one thing the Valkyries simply didn’t have within the playoffs, in both their 101-72 blowout in Minnesota, or the heartbreaker within the South Bay
Golden State had a joyous and wildly profitable first season, one which exceeded even the loftiest of expectations. A 23-21 report within the common season, after being predicted to complete backside of the league by a well-liked betting website.
And but, the growth Valkyries nonetheless discovered a bitter lesson after dropping its two playoff video games in opposition to prime seeded Minnesota.
Stars matter. They actually, actually matter.
Napheesa Collier made 6 of 8 second-half pictures, burying jumper after jumper en-route to 24 factors. McBride dropped in backbreaking floaters. Williams supplied the midrange dagger.
“Obviously, it’s a really tough way to go out when we had the lead the majority of the game,” Golden State guard Veronica Burton stated.
Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) and Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) wave to followers after dropping to the Minnesota Lynx throughout Sport 2 of the WNBA playoffs at SAP Heart in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Burton was the Most Improved Participant, a beautiful flooring common whose rags to riches story from growth draft castoff to crew chief exemplifies the Valkyries’ modus operandi.
Cecilia Zandalasini – missed shot be darned – was a gifted shotmaker that Nakase in comparison with NBA stars similar to Kobe Bryant and Steph Curry.
Monique Billings, Kate Martin, Iliana Rupert and others picked up the slack after Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton have been misplaced for the season with knee accidents. All have been discovered by common supervisor Ohemaa Nyanin.
Kaila Charles, the castoff from bottomfeeder Dallas, turned a starter who purchased into Golden State’s system, one other image of Nakase’s plug-and-play technique.
These gritty Valkyries are undeniably efficient, and capable of overwhelm many groups within the common season with a rotation that boasted 11 gamers all able to enjoying a job. .
However to be nice, extra is required if Golden State is to attain the purpose that each member of the group is conscious about.
“We have to win a championship in five years, and I love that challenge,” Nakase stated.
And within the postseason, when rotations shrink and scouting stories reveal each small weak spot, championships should not gained with numbers.
Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) and Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) block the ball in opposition to Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride (21) within the second quarter throughout Sport 2 of the WNBA playoffs at SAP Heart in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
They’re gained with overwhelming expertise.
if the Valkyries are banking on participant growth, 21-year-old guard Carla Leite flashed as a fearless driver as a rookie guard. And 19-year-old Justė Jocytė is predicted to return over subsequent season after spending your complete 12 months in Europe after being chosen with the No. 5 total decide within the draft.
She is a clean scoring wing who has been lauded for her bucket getting skill.
And happily, with the Collective Bargaining Settlement expiring after the season and the overwhelming majority of the league being free brokers, the Valkyries have a chief alternative to go star-hunting in the event that they don’t wish to place all of their eggs within the basket of a participant who can’t legally drink but.
Walnut Creek’s Sabrina Ionescu and Nakase’s previous Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson are each set to hit the open market. .
Maybe, had the Valkyries had that singular kind of expertise, they’d not have squandered that 14-point lead within the fourth quarter.
Or misplaced three consecutive video games to finish the common season with an opportunity to enhance its playoff seeding and keep away from Minnesota.
As a substitute, Golden State discovered a invaluable lesson.
They’re good. However they’ve received a methods to go to be nice.
