Game 6 wrap: Valkyries even with WNBA Finalists Lynx at half, get blown out in Q4, storm back at end too late

great play, but tough to survive a scoring drought vs basically the best team in the league

Eric Apricot

Jun 02, 2025

Official Valkyries By the Numbers

Golden State drew another sellout of 18,064 on Sunday, its third home sellout in as many games.
- The Valkyries are the first WNBA franchise to have an attendance of 18,000+ in each of its first three home games.
Kate Martin scored a career-high 14 points on 50.0 percent (4-8) shooting and added four rebounds.
Veronica Burton added 21 points, her fourth game scoring in double-figures this season and second 20-point performance (22 points vs. Washington on May 21). Burton also added five rebounds and three assists.
Kayla Thornton scored 11 points and is one point away from 2,000 in her career. Thornton added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Golden State scored 29 points in the second quarter, which is tied for its season best in a quarter this season (4th quarter versus Washington on May 21).
The Valkyries had a season-best 21 fast break points and tied a season high of 12 second-chance points.
Golden State falls to 0-1 in the Commissioner's Cup.

Apricot In-Game Notes

Here’s hopium: NYL is #2 at low turnovers and GSV got a bunch of steals and ran. MIN is #7 (worse than NYL) so GSV might also be able to steal and run. If it turns into a halfcourt game, you figure MIN has a big advantage.
[On Iliana Rupert joining after Eurobasket] I saw that but we already have 12 on the roster? In theory, GSW has the cap space to waive someone and eat their contract, but that seems a bit cold blooded.
FYI, each team has a charity partner for the Commissioner’s Cup: https://www.wnba.com/commissioners-cup/2025/community-organizations
‪Marisa Ingemi‬ ‪@mingemi.bsky.social‬:
Valks starters vs Lynx --
Burton - Hayes - Salaun - Thornton - Fagbenle
Napheesa Collier is in the press display as a starter… we’ll see if that’s reality.
GSV helping at the nail and other aggressive help off the weak side result in 3 straight completely open Lynx jumpers. 2-3 so far. GSV on the other end is being guarded 1-to-1 and have to create tough shots. Oooh, on cue, MIN helps on a drive, pass to the cutter, and-1
GSV hitting 4-7 from three. Not sustainable but literally the best shooting in team history to date. I noted that the GSV swarming defense rattled the NYL and MIN is statistically even more turnover vulnerable.
Vanloo in, fans instantly with the looooo yell.
GSV had the lead most of Q1, but the last couple of plays… GSV doing some interesting rotations to help in the paint getting punished resulting in some seriously long close outs. All out hustle but MIN made some tough shots.
I’ll mention again the Violet Vibes dance team… wide variety of shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. Fun energetic dancing.
MIN backcuts killing GSV right now. Tip Hayes with a lightning quick crossover for 2 FT. Then Vanloo steal to Kate Martin attacking the close out and cashing in an And-1. Crowd is delirious that Martin got on the scoreboard.
Then Martin with another layup… then two more 3s. 11 points and the crowd is delirious. One FT coming for a 4 pt play.
Martin misses a FT… could have been a 5 points play (upgraded a flagrant). Amazing what confidence can do for you. Martin drives for 2 FTs.
Podziemski front row courtside wearing a Veronica Burton jersey and Valkyrie Violet pants.
Vanloo and Hayes feeling themselves and fire up some long chaotic threes. MIN immediately punishes and are up 3 again. Nakase calls a timeout, presumably to say cut out the bad shots.
The Kate Martin Fan Club (the Martinis) must be floating in the clouds. Her best five minutes in her professional career.
MIN has only 4 turnovers but GSV has been running on every rebound. And… on cue, a great Tip Hayes steal after a bad layup miss.
Very very encouraging half from GSV. MIN actually shot 6-11 from three and also made a bunch of contested jumpers. Maybe they sustain that, but odds are against. GSW shot 6-17 from 3, which is a human 36%, but it’s on the high side for GSV. The scrambling defense will hold up, but MIN has a lot of possible adjustments to try.
[On why not back cuts in Q3] There’s your back cut… Martin from Vanloo… but foul call challenged. Also it’s hard to finish over the MIN rim protection
GSV still turning MIN over. MIN not leaving Zandalisini at the 3 point line for anything. Burton with some very tough drives into the paint.
Bad Vanloo chaos there… went under the screen on Hiedeman (37% 3P%) for an open 3.
Martin in for some more Kate Magic? Immediately gets Vanloo pass on the back cut, gets bailed out with a foul. Hold on, challenge… successful. Then Vanloo calls Kate’s number to run a PNR for a pull up 3, miss.
Rough quarter for GSV, down 8. Feel like the offense let them down more than the D. MIN still scorching hot at 47% 3P shooting. Still within reach in Q4 though. Will need MIN to cool off from three.
This start of Q4 might kill GSV. GSV needs stops to get offense and MIN is snowballing the lead. GSV is getting open threes on drive and kicks but the old problem of being a bad 3PT shooting team is killing them. Down to 21% 3P% while MIN still at 45%.
People at home will have a better idea than me what happened… it looked like someone (Hayes) got shoulder blasted into the stands… and it’s a jump ball?
Aaaaah, the first REF YOU SUCK in Valkyries team history.
- There was crowd unhappiness in the past but I do not believe there was an actual REF YOU SUCK. I’ve been waiting to commemorate it. 😁
Q4.6.45. Just a masterclass from MIN in finding the open player. Miss though, and Burton almost wills her way to a pick-2 the other way. But it’s a foul. Now getting dire. MIN up 16 now and accelerating.
Second travel call on foot shuffle on the catch. Then Kate Martin muffs a layup after a good drive. Hate to say it, GSV might have gone to that well a little too much (instead of Leite).
At 5:41, GSV has scored ONE point in the 4th. GSV cannot compete with MIN in a halfcourt game. Down 22 now, it would take a miracle squared to come back.
GSV never say die and cut it to 16. Salaun back in and Kate Martin still getting rewarded with minutes, matched with Burton.
Burton with a defiant step back 3. DOWN TO 13. This team will not quit. It’s mathematically possible I guess…
I also think MIN is also doing better at getting back. GSV was fantastic attacking in early offense in H1…
[On GSW attacking the zone] I didn’t see anything easily described. Looked like a lot of PNR and drive and kick. And a lot of missed jumpers.
DOWN TO ELEVEN, then KT drives and a very questionable jump ball with Collier. A lot of arm with that tie up.
A THIRD shuffle on the catch travel into a dis-counted Vanloo 3 and that will probably do it. Rousing ovation for GSV anyway.
FYI Tip Hayes reinjured her nose, update to come later.
I’d say the first NYL game was worse in all dimensions. Today GSV was not intimidated and played overall well. But the shooting was not there and MIN was hot. Don’t forget that MIN is basically the best team in the league.
[On Leite] I’ve seen some speculation about an injury as she’s not played second halves in two straight games.
It's okay to have great expectations! Just adjust for context. The last expansion team ATL lost their first 17 games and finished 4-30. I'm fairly sure GSV will beat that record...
[On watching the post-game press conference] I don't know of an official public way to do it... but I don't think there's an official NBA way to do it either... sometimes you can pick it up at the end of the league pass stream but it seems random.