The Golden State Valkyries' top-ranked defense stifled the New York Liberty's offense, leading to a season-low 60 points for the Liberty in a 79-60 loss Wednesday night.
The Liberty offense struggled significantly against the Valkyries, shooting a season-low 30 percent from the field. This marked the third time this season that Golden State has held New York to its three lowest scoring outputs. The Valkyries are the only team this season that the Liberty have not defeated.
"The Liberty knew they were facing a tall task in the Valkyries’ league-best defense," the New York Post reported. "Sabrina Ionescu even acknowledged at practice Wednesday that the game would be a major stress test for the Liberty’s offense." The offense ultimately failed to meet the challenge, leading Coach Chris DeMarco to substitute all starters except Pauline Astier with 3:13 remaining in the fourth quarter, with the team trailing by 17.
Frustration was evident as Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart were seen jawing with officials. Jones committed a foul that was reviewed but upheld as a common foul.
The game started competitively, with the Liberty moving the ball well in the first quarter and trailing by only two points entering the second. However, the offense became stagnant, and the Valkyries capitalized. Cecelia Zandalasini scored 12 points on 3-of-4 shooting from three-point range in the second quarter, helping Golden State outscore New York 21-11 to build a 42-30 halftime lead.
To overcome a team like the Valkyries, known for elite defense, physicality, and rebounding, the Liberty would have needed to match their intensity. This would have involved tightening their defense, securing rebounds, limiting second-chance points, and getting to the free-throw line, none of which materialized effectively. The Valkyries extended their lead to 18 points with six unanswered points to open the fourth quarter, and the Liberty had no response.
With this loss, the Liberty were swept by the Valkyries in the regular-season series. The notes suggest that New York may have to go through Golden State to reach the WNBA Finals, and currently, the Valkyries appear to hold the advantage.
