Short-handed Valkyries return from break, rout expansion Portland
Minus several key players after the FIBA World Cup, the Golden State Valkyries routed the Portland Fire 82-66 and inched closer to the WNBA's No. 1 playoff seed.
The Golden State Valkyries, who had recently returned from a three-week break, put on a dominant show against the expansion Portland Fire at Chase Center on Friday night. The team, known for their enthusiastic fanbase, quickly regained their momentum from the preseason, easily defeating Portland 82-66. The game marked a significant moment for the Valkyries, who had been striving for playoff positioning in the WNBA.
However, the return from their break was not without trepidation, as forward Kaila Charles admitted, "Coming back was like, ‘Dang, I feel like I've been gone forever.’" But the team's coach and players quickly dismissed these concerns, feeling that the pre-season hiatus had actually given them an advantage. Reserve guard Kaitlyn Chen and big Laeticia Amihere played standout performances, with Chen hitting a season-high five threes and Amihere showcasing a dynamic inside-out game.
Though the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx had also recently won against the New York Liberty, the current standings had the Valkyries just one game back.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
