Golden State Postgame Notes: Lynx 77, Valkyries 66
WNBA Golden State Valkyries

Golden State Postgame Notes: Lynx 77, Valkyries 66

Published on August 20, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Source: Golden State Valkyries News Release


By the Numbers

The Valkyries drew their 42nd consecutive regular-season sellout with 18,064 on Wednesday night. Golden State has sold out every regular season game in team history.

Tiffany Hayes scored 12 points with a season-high seven rebounds and two assists. Her second assist in the contest was her 1,000th of her career, making Hayes the 15th player in WNBA history with 5,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 400 steals.

Janelle Salaün led Golden State with 15 points on 6-12 (50.0 percent) shooting while adding six rebounds and three assists.

Veronica Burton finished with 14 points, a team-high seven assists, and a game-high four steals, while adding four rebounds. Burton shot 4-9 (44.4 percent) from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line.

Gabby Williams added 10 points, eight of which came in the fourth quarter, two assists and two steals.

Cecilia Zandalasini scored eight points with six rebounds, and Kiah Stokes also posted six rebounds.

The Valkyries outscored the Lynx 40-36 in the second half, and held Minnesota to just 13 points in the third quarter.

Quotes

HEAD COACH NATALIE NAKASE:

ON THE SECOND HALF COMEBACK:

"We started playing some defense. We did not find defense in the first half. There was no ball pressure. We were late in the pick and roll. We decided not to box out. We decided not to try to create any deflections and steals. It's really unfortunate, because then they felt at ease...I thought Ballhalla actually had more energy than us, so we just have to figure out what it takes [to match that energy.]"

ON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE TONIGHT:

"[It's] encouraging. We didn't shoot well, but it's encouraging. I thought finishing strong, I like the fact that we're able to get downhill and feed off of. I thought Tip [Tiffany] Hayes and Veronica Burton played their asses off. They emptied the tank. [I] obviously didn't take V out, but she was organized. She was leading us, she was harping on people when they didn't have the fight. I thought she did an incredible job defensively. She was all over the place, she was on the floor rebounding...It's encouraging because we know, number one we probably aren't shooting like this, but it's because we didn't play defense. That's why we didn't get the easy looks on the offense in the first half. Then when we did play defense, we got the flow right. So we know the answer. It's just unfortunate we didn't fight it from the jump."

ON HOW TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER TONIGHT:

"I have to figure that out, I want to know the why. I learned not to press [the players] after the game. Let them sit into it, let them figure out amongst themselves, what they can lean on, whether it's leaders or the veterans. Let them talk amongst themselves. And tomorrow, when everyone's kind of got their emotion down, right? Because everyone's emotional right now. Let it sit, let it simmer. Because once you watch the film, then sometimes you realize it wasn't as bad as you think. So I want to give them some grace right now."

GOLDEN STATE GUARDS VERONICA BURTON AND TIFFANY HAYES:

ON TONIGHT'S RESULT:

Burton: "We can't come out and expect to win any game against the Minnesota Lynx when we don't play a full game, and when we don't play the full game to the best of our ability, and with the focus that we need to. We weren't going to win that game, even just how we started off."

ON THE ATMOSPHERE:

Hayes: "It felt good, I liked it. I like the challenge. I liked our fight at the end. I love how we fought, we made a lot of mistakes at the end, but at the end of the day, our fight was there the entire time. It's just about being intentional, and it's about doing the little things for 40 minutes the whole game. I enjoyed it. I know that was a playoff-feeling-type of game, and I really love those. I can't wait for the next one."

ON TAKEAWAYS FROM TONIGHT:

Burton: "I think there's a mental focus and a competitiveness that needs to come out; and yes, they hit some great shots, they hit some tough shots. But we can't afford to keep saying the same thing about our starts. This is a really important game. We know that we need to act like it when we come out and hold each other accountable, and we will. But it's a sense of urgency from before we even start, because we can't get down at 22 at one point. It's [about] pouring into each other, pouring into the game from the get-go."

Up Next: The Valkyries travel to Chicago to face the Sky on Friday, August 21, tipping off at 4:30 p.m. PT on ION, League Pass, and the Audacy App.

Check out the Golden State Valkyries Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 20, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central