SAN FRANCISCO — For a moment, it looked like the Valkyries might run away with Friday’s game.
Playing the league-leading Minnesota Lynx, Golden State was up 10 with 38.3 seconds left in the first half.
A few buckets early in the third might have taken the Lynx’s hearts away, even with a team with as much talent as them.
But all the momentum built in the first half disappeared after veteran Gabby Williams fouled Kayla McBride and Nia Coffey on 3-point attempts on back-to-back possessions.
Instead of going into halftime up double-digits, the Valkyries went into the break conceding momentum to the Lynx and they took advantage.
Minnesota used the mini second-quarter run to propel it to a 81-75 win over the Valkyries. Golden State has now lost eight straight to the Lynx as they remain the only team the second-year franchise hasn’t beaten in its short history.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Kayla McBride #21 of the Minnesota Lynx drives to the basket past Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries during the second half of the WNBA game at Chase Center on June 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
“How we ended the second (quarter) was tough,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “We built momentum, and then we kind of do a couple things that we can control a little bit better.”
Cecilia Zandalasini led the Valkyries with 23 points. Gabby Williams added 15.
The Valkyries held rookie sensation Olivia Miles to just seven points and four assists, but couldn’t stop anyone else.
Nia Coffey had led the Lynx with 22 points, Courtney Williams had 21 and 12 rebounds and Kayla McBride recorded 17.
The Lynx came out of halftime firing on all cylinders.
Down 46-41 at halftime, Minnesota opened the game with a 12-5 run to take a 53-51 lead early in the period.
The Valkyries would go down one heading into the fourth quarter, but they would never see the lead again.
An 8-1 run early in the period, capped off by a 3-point play from Miles, gave the Lynx a seven-point cushion.
The Valkyries cut Minnesota’s lead to five with under a minute to go in the fourth and French forward Janelle Salaün had the oppertunity to make it a one-possession game at the line shooting two free throws.
But the second-year player missed both and the Lynx slowly built their advantage back with their own free throws.
Golden State gave one more punch after Zandalasini hit a clutch 3-pointer with 21.8 seconds remaining to cut the Minnesota lead back to down to three. But Miles hit two free throws on the ensuing possession and the rookie blocked Zandalasini’s 3-pointer with the Lynx up four to close out the game.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Tiffany Hayes #15 of the Golden State Valkyries goes to the basket past Olivia Miles #5 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first half of the WNBA game at Chase Center on June 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Valkyries shot 4-for-22 in the fourth quarter and 9-of-36 in the second half.
Nakase disagreed with the notion that her team didn’t get clean looks at the end of the game, emphasizing that her team needs to do a better job on the defensive end.
“If we probably would have got a couple more stops, then we would be singing a different tune,” Nakase said. “But I understand. I’ll say this: we’re not trying to miss shots on the fourth.”
What happened at the end of the second quarter?
After Williams fouled Coffey with .2 seconds on the clock, the veteran forward pleaded with her coaching staff to challenge the call.
It appeared that Williams made little to no contact on Coffey, prompting Williams to scream at the Valkyries bench to call a timeout and challenge the ruling. However, as Golden State tried to figure out whether or not it was going to make a challenge, the referees called a delay of game warning on the Valkyries for not lining up at the free throw line.
According to Nakase, once the referees made the delay of game call, she was unable to challenge Williams’ foul as it became too late.
“I wish I would have saw earlier. It was a little early, but then he called a delay of game,” Nakase said. “But like neither team was lined up.”
Williams didn’t elaborate on her second quarter fouls. When asked about how it shifted the momentum of the game, she responded, “Yup that’s my bad. I got to learn from that.”
Zandalasini gets back on track
The Italian sharpshooter had a rough stretch of games since returning to the starting lineup.
Over the last five games, she’s averaged just 3.6 points per game. She’s shot 36% from the field and 30% from the 3-point line this season.
Zandalasini scored 14 points in the first half on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-for-4 shooting from the 3-point line.
“I just tried to play with confidence,” Zandalasini said. “When my name gets called, I try to stay ready. That’s what I do and that’s what we do every night. We have a deep team and that’s our strength.”
Valkyries shut down Miles
The Valkyries made a major adjustment since allowing Miles to drop 28 points on them two weeks ago.
Golden State sent more traps than usual and didn’t allow the former Notre Dame standout to get clean looks at the rim or from the 3-point line.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve noticed that, too. However, she commended her rookie for finding other ways to impact the game.
“Us and Golden State are the two best defensive teams in the league,” Reeve said. “What (Miles) saw was actual defense. She saw physicality. She saw aggressive trapping. They play hard, they fly around and they protect the paint. She needed a game like this. This was this was a tremendous growth point for her.”
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 19: Kaila Charles #6 of the Golden State Valkyries goes in for a layup past Natasha Howard #1 of the Minnesota Lynx during the first half of the WNBA game at Chase Center on June 19, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)