Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...SAN FRANCISCO — After a couple of rough shooting nights against Minnesota and Las Vegas, the Valkyries found their groove.
And it couldn’t come at a better time.
Playing the Atlanta Dream, the Eastern Conference’s top team, Golden State hit 15 3-pointers to cruise to a 77-66 win at home.
The Valkyries shot 47% from the 3-point line and 45% from the field. Despite being the much smaller team, the Valkyries only lost the rebounding battle 34-32.
Gabby Williams led the way with 23 points while Kayla Thornton added 17.
The Valkyries held Angel Reese, the league leader in rebounds per game, to just 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field.
Golden State moved the ball well, recording 20 assists on 27 made shots.
The Valkyries built on a solid first quarter by outscoring the Dream 22-9 to go into halftime with a 17-point lead.
Golden State continued its momentum into the third quarter, ballooning its lead to as large as 26 late in the third.
Atlanta opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run and cut the deficit to as little as 11. But despite a somewhat cold final 10 minutes, the Valkyries’ cushion was just too big for the Dream to overcome.
Golden State snapped its two-game losing streak as it goes into another matchup with Atlanta on Friday.
Thornton shines on both ends
The Valkyries’ first-ever All-Star played lights out on both ends.
Along with her 17 points, Thornton was key in keeping Reese and the rest of the daunted Atlanta front court at bay.
Reese, Naz Hilman and Madina Okot were held to 28 points combined with Okot scoring 16 – mostly in the fourth quarter.