Valkyries Display Courage and Intellect in Closer-Than-Anticipated Elimination by Top-Ranked Lynx in WNBA Playoffs
The Minnesota Lynx secured a hard-fought comeback victory over the Golden State Valkyries in Game 2 of their series, advancing to the WNBA semifinals. The Valkyries, an expansion team making history as the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs, started the game strongly. They took control by speeding up the Lynx, making scoring difficult, and were particularly impressive from beyond the arc, going 7 of 11 in the first two quarters. This enabled them to build a substantial lead of 41-28 at halftime, which was the fewest points the Lynx had scored in a first half during their 2025 campaign. However, the momentum began to shift after halftime. Minnesota opened the third quarter with an 11-0 run, narrowing the gap and setting the stage for a thrilling finish. The Lynx defence held on despite Golden State having possession again, and Courtney Williams made a clutch jump shot for Minnesota with under 30 seconds remaining, giving them a 75-74 advantage. The Valkyries responded with a bucket from Cecilia Zandalasini, but their comeback efforts were not enough. Minnesota outscored the Valkyries, 26-11, in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. A shot clock violation with four seconds left sealed the deal for the Lynx, who won the game 75-74. Napheesa Collier was proud of her team's performance and acknowledged the tough fight from Golden State. Kayla McBride scored a two-pointer to give the Lynx a 71-70 lead with 2:48 remaining in the game, and she intentionally committed a foul with 2.8 seconds on the clock to secure the win. The SAP Center in San Jose was sold out for Game 2, despite the Valkyries not being able to host at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict. The Lynx were heavily favored to win convincingly, but the Valkyries were the most dominant team for most of the game. Notably, the 2025 season saw Natalie Nakase named the WNBA Coach of the Year, and Veronica Burton was recognized as the Most Improved Player. Burton received this week's Most Improved Player honors in recognition of her impressive performances throughout the season. The Minnesota Lynx will now advance to the semifinals, where they will face a tough challenge against their yet-to-be-determined opponent.
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