The Golden State Valkyries ended a three-game losing streak on Friday with an 86-76 victory over the Dallas Wings in San Francisco, despite missing their leading scorer and rebounder Kayla Thornton. Thornton’s absence was confirmed just hours before tipoff due to the need for knee surgery, which prematurely ended her season. This rally victory marked an important turnaround for Golden State as they returned from the All-Star break.

Early Struggles Followed by Strong Second-Half Performance

The Wings took advantage of the Valkyries’ adjustment period without Thornton, building a 21-10 lead after the first quarter. However, Golden State’s resilience shone through in the second half, led by Tiffany Hayes, who scored 17 points among five Valkyries reaching double figures. Her effort helped the team erase the deficit and surge ahead with a 19-8 third-quarter run. Golden State maintained the lead for the entire fourth quarter as Dallas fought to stay close.

Key Contributions from Multiple Players in a Balanced Effort

Rookie Paige Bueckers sparked a late surge for the Wings with nine points in the final period, finishing with a team-best 17 points and a game-high six assists. Despite Bueckers’ strong showing, Golden State’s collective effort was decisive. Temi Fagbenele contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, while Janelle Salaun added 16 points. Carla Leite came off the bench to score 14 points, and Cecilia Zandalasini provided 10 points to round out the scoring.

For Dallas, Arike Ogunbowale led with 16 points, supported by Aziah James and Haley Jones who added 13 and 10 points respectively off the bench. However, the Wings missed their last four field-goal attempts, unable to close the gap in the final two minutes.

Significance of the Win Moving Forward for Golden State

This victory for the Valkyries is crucial as they navigate the remainder of the season without Kayla Thornton, whose averages of 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game highlighted her importance to the team. The Valkyries demonstrated depth and determination against Dallas, showing they can compete despite losing their star player. Their ability to execute a strong finish under pressure sets a hopeful tone as they aim to improve their overall record.