Valkyries Edge Sparks in a Tale of Two Halves
In a game that showcased the stark contrast between a sluggish start and a furious finish, the Golden State Valkyries held off the Los Angeles Sparks for an 84-78 victory on Sunday. The win was a much-needed boost for the Valkyries, who have struggled out of the gate recently, while the Sparks, coming off their best win of the season in Minnesota on Thursday, couldn’t sustain that momentum in their first home game since the trade deadline.
The first half was all Valkyries, as they raced out to a 29-point first quarter and led comfortably for much of the game. The Sparks, who have now lost eight of their last ten, looked flat and lacked the energy that propelled them to a victory over the Lynx just days earlier. However, the fourth quarter painted a different picture, as the Sparks mounted a dramatic comeback that fell just short.
Trailing 66-47 with 9:36 remaining, Los Angeles erupted for a 13-2 run, pulling within 68-60 on a jumper from Wheeler. The Sparks then scored 26 of the next 34 points, trimming the deficit to a single point when Ariel Atkins hit a three-pointer with 1:38 left. But the Valkyries, led by Nneka’s 16 points and seven rebounds, held their nerve. With 1:03 remaining, Gabby Williams scored in the paint to push the lead back to three, and the Valkyries sealed the game from the free-throw line.
Valkyries coach Nakase was critical of her team’s recent slow starts, but this time they came out strong. The Sparks’ comeback, while impressive, was a case of too little, too late. The loss underscores the team’s inconsistency, as they’ve shown they can compete with the best but have struggled to maintain that level for a full 40 minutes. For the Valkyries, the win provides a sense of stability as they look to solidify their playoff positioning, while the Sparks are left to wonder what could have been if they had brought the same intensity from the opening tip.
Shimanta Das 
