The highest-seeded Minnesota Lynx survived a valiant effort by the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries with a 75-74 comeback victory on Wednesday night time, profitable their first-round collection, 2-0, and advancing to the semifinals the place they are going to face the winner of the New York/Phoenix collection.
However whereas the Lynx’s championship hopes stay on, Wednesday night time was all in regards to the Valkyries, who capped off the perfect season for an enlargement staff in WNBA historical past with a gritty efficiency that might be remembered within the Bay Space and past for a very long time.
After the Lynx beat the Valkyries 4 occasions through the common season and took Recreation 1 with a decisive 101-72 win, they had been closely favored to win Recreation 2 convincingly. Nonetheless, Golden State was essentially the most dominant staff for many of Wednesday’s recreation.
The Valkyries entered halftime with a 41-28 lead. The 28 factors had been the fewest for the Lynx in a primary half by way of their 2025 marketing campaign. That was no simple achievement as Minnesota had the strongest offense within the league through the common season, however the Valkyries took management of the rhythm early within the recreation by dashing up their opponents to make scoring tougher. Although each groups had a comparable variety of turnovers, Golden State was capitalizing extra on Minnesota’s errors. The Valkyries had been additionally notably spectacular from past the arc, going 7 of 11 within the first two quarters.
“We’re not simply enjoying with our hearts tonight, we’re enjoying with our minds. We wish to be the smarter staff tonight,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase advised ESPN earlier than the second half tipped off.
The momentum began shifting after the break as Minnesota opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run. Nonetheless, Golden State nonetheless gained that interval, 22-21.
The Lynx’s first lead for the reason that first quarter was 71-70 after a two-pointer by Kayla McBride with 2:48 left within the recreation. On the subsequent possession, Natisha Hiedeman had a giant steal to disrupt Golden State.
The Valkyries weren’t capable of host at Chase Middle attributable to a battle of schedule, however the staff offered out the SAP Middle in San Jose for Recreation 2. The gang was loud all 40 minutes, notably within the final minute when both staff had an opportunity to win it.
Courtney Williams made a clutch leap shot for Minnesota with beneath 30 seconds remaining, however the Valkyries responded with a 3-pointer through Cecilia Zandalasini. Time was operating out because the Lynx held a 75-74 benefit, however the Valkyries acquired one other alternative. They opted to not foul and Minnesota was known as for a shot clock violation with 4 seconds left.
The Valkyries’ gameplan was troublesome to execute as McBride deliberately dedicated a foul with 2.8 seconds on the clock. Though Golden State had possession once more, the Lynx protection held on.
“We all know what we manufactured from,” Lynx star Napheesa Collier stated throughout her postgame interview. “We have been right here earlier than, we now have the expertise, we all know how robust and gritty it’s to win in conditions like this. To come back again from that, in that manner, on this surroundings, I am actually happy with us.”
It took a stable efficiency on either side of the courtroom for Minnesota to outscore the Valkyries, 26-11, within the fourth quarter. Collier was happy with her staff whereas additionally giving credit score to Golden State for such a aggressive combat.
“It is unbelievable what they’ve achieved right here. That staff is so, so arduous working and it was a troublesome recreation,” Collier stated.
The Valkyries did not advance, however they already made historical past as the primary enlargement staff in WNBA historical past to make the playoffs. Their unbelievable season didn’t go unrecognized as Nakase was named Coach of the Yr and Veronica Burton obtained Most Improved Participant honors this week.
“So proud. That is the very first thing I stated,” Nakase advised reporters after the sport. “No. 1, I stated, ‘get your f—–g heads up’. I stated, ‘get your heads up.’ They had been down. I stated, ‘I would like everybody’s eye contact. I wish to really feel each particular person proper now. And I would like your feelings, I would like your coronary heart, I would like the whole lot.’ Everybody seemed up and I simply advised them how proud I used to be. To have that place rocking tonight, to have that Ballhalla mentality, to have the ability to go toe-and-toe to the No. 1 staff, I used to be so proud.”
