Cecilia Zandalasini scores 20 and the Valkyries shut down the Liberty 79-60

In a thrilling matchup on Thursday night, the Golden State Valkyries emerged victorious over the New York Liberty with a final score of 79-60. Golden State's star player, Cecilia Zandalasini, played a pivotal role in the win by scoring 14 points out of her team's 20 points in the opening half. Gabby Williams also contributed significantly with 16 points, further solidifying Golden State's dominance.

The Valkyries' success against the Liberty this season stands out as they have improved to a perfect 3-0 record against them, marking the only team to have eluded a win this season. The Valkyries demonstrated their strength by holding the Liberty to low-scoring games, with the three prior games ending at 70, 67, and 60 points respectively - all the lowest scores of the season for New York.

Golden State's resilience was evident as they forced New York into scoring 80-plus points in an impressive 16 consecutive games, the longest streak in the Liberty's franchise history. Veronica Burton provided crucial support with a season-high 13 assists alongside 8 points, while Tiffany Hayes chipped in with 12 points off the bench.

Jonquel Jones of New York contributed with 18 points, but their momentum was derailed by Golden State's relentless defense. Breanna Stewart of the Liberty managed 16 points but shot poorly from the field, going 4-of-10. Zandalasini's four 3-pointers in the first half proved decisive, enabling the Valkyries to lead 42-30 at that stage.

The Valkyries' dominance continued through the third and fourth quarters with an 11-6 run in the third and the opening six points of the fourth, culminating in a final score of 79-60.