Valkyries Hold Strong at Home, Defeat Liberty 76-67

The Golden State Valkyries delivered a gritty defensive performance on June 29, 2026, to defeat the visiting New York Liberty 76-67 at Chase Center. The victory improved the Valkyries’ home record and showcased the team’s ability to control tempo against one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, the Valkyries set the tone with aggressive on-ball pressure and smart help-side rotations. New York struggled to find consistent rhythm, shooting just 39% from the field. Golden State, meanwhile, used a balanced scoring attack and a strong third-quarter run to build a lead they never relinquished.

Key Moments

• First Quarter: Golden State jumped out to an early 22-14 lead, powered by 8 points from forward Alissa Pili and active defense that forced three Liberty turnovers.
• Second Quarter struggle: The Liberty tightened their defense, holding the Valkyries to 15 points in the period, but could not cut the deficit to single digits, trailing 37-30 at halftime.
• Third Quarter surge: Golden State outscored New York 24-19 in the third, with guard Jordyn Jenkins scoring 10 points in the frame, pushing the lead to 61-49.
• Liberty’s last push: New York cut the lead to 71-65 with 3:12 left in the fourth, but Valkyries center Megan Gustafson converted a key and-one and the defense locked in for the final possessions.

Standout Players

• Jordyn Jenkins (Golden State): Led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Her scoring burst in the third quarter was decisive.
• Alissa Pili (Golden State): Finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds, consistently winning battles in the paint and drawing fouls.
• Breanna Stewart (New York): Kept the Liberty afloat with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, but received limited support from the backcourt.
• Megan Gustafson (Golden State): Contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, anchoring the Valkyries’ interior defense.

Tactical Story

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized pace control and half-court execution. The Valkyries committed only 9 turnovers while forcing 14 from New York. The home side also dominated the boards (42-34), limiting the Liberty’s second-chance opportunities. New York’s usually potent three-point attack went cold, hitting just 6-of-23 from deep.

Table and Season Impact

The win moved the Valkyries to 12-7 on the season, solidifying their place among the top four in the WNBA standings. For the Liberty, the loss dropped them to 13-6, but they remain in contention for the top seed. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in New York on July 15.

With this victory, Golden State proved they can match up physically and tactically with a championship-caliber opponent, offering a statement that they are a legitimate contender in the 2026 WNBA playoffs race.