Valkyries notch statement road win over league-leading Lynx

The Valkyries outscored the Lynx, 21-3, in points off turnovers, taking a 17-16 lead after the first quarter on a layup off a steal from forward Gabby Williams.

They swarmed defensively to take away Napheesa Collier's interior game, including on the following play, when four Golden State defenders converged in the paint as soon as she touched the ball.

Even when Collier scored, which wasn't often (she finished with nine points on 4-of-10 shooting), Golden State didn't give her anything easy.

The following play from late in the third quarter shows Golden State's exemplary team defense. Everyone contributed as Minnesota failed to find a good look despite sharing the ball with five passes. The sequence eventually ended when center Kiah Stokes recorded one of her two blocks.

Monday was also one of the few times all season Lynx rookie guard Olivia Miles looked like a first-year player. She had eight points on 3-of-12 shooting with five assists and four turnovers.

Offensively, Golden State continued an improved performance from 2025. Last season, the Valkyries were among the league's worst three-point shooting teams despite leading the league in attempts. They're just as dependent on shots from beyond the arc this year but are making them at a higher clip, including on Monday when they shot 36 percent (12-of-33). Offseason free-agent acquisition Gabby Williams led with three makes.

Backed by the league's best defense and an improved three-point shot, Golden State has the pieces to go on a deep playoff run, perhaps even as far as the WNBA Finals.

After Monday, it's not too soon to set the bar so high for the still-nascent franchise. The Valkyries said that loud and clear.