​WASHINGTON — When I wrote about my love for the Golden State Valkyries on June 24, they had just dropped two straight and were staring at a schedule that pitted them against either the Atlanta Dream (then 12-4) or the New York Liberty (then 12-6) in their next four games. I cautioned that it would be tough for them to stay in the contender conversation in the near term, but that it was a long season. The Valkyries proved me wrong by winning all four of those games, and they added a fifth straight victory Monday night, moving within just a half-game of the top spot.
Two of the league’s stingiest defenses collided Monday night at CareFirst Arena, and Golden State’s defense carried the day. They limited Washington to a season-low 49 points, the fewest allowed by any team this season, while their own offense totaled 62. It marked the Mystics’ best recent 3-point defense performance, but the Valkyries’ dominance inside the arc was the bigger story: Washington is notoriously inefficient from distance, yet they still connected on only 12.5 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc. Golden State, meanwhile, is renowned for its two-point defense and did not disappoint, forcing Washington to miss 58.3 percent on two-pointers and holding them to 41.7 percent shooting from inside the arc.
The Valkyries’ effort was anchored by a sharp second-half shift that stifled the Mystics’ offense. In the opening 20 minutes, Washington put up 22 points in the paint, but Golden State tightened dramatically after the break, reducing that number to eight in the paint as players communicated better, shifted earlier, and pressed the ball with increased urgency. Head coach Natalie Nakase lauded the adjustment: “In the second half, we locked in on the game plan. We didn’t do it so much in the first half. … We allowed 22 paint points in the first half. And then (our players) took another step, they communicated, they were earlier in their shifts, they ball-pressed. And so we kept them to eight in the paint. I was just really proud of them to really lock in on the game plan. Because we can control that. Not so much our shooting sometimes.”
Turnovers were another turning point. Washington entered averaging 16.6 turnovers per game, the worst mark in the league, and they finished with 17 giveaways on Monday. Golden State, by contrast, coughed up the ball only six times, one of five instances this season with six or fewer turnovers. The Valkyries also dominated on the defensive end, amassing 10 steals to Washington’s one.
Golden State’s approach is bold: rely on lockdown defense and a high-paced, three-pronged attack. Their defensive rating sits at an elite 101.7, and they presently lead the league in points allowed per game at 76.8. Yet the night wasn’t perfect offensively. The Valkyries went 6-for-34 from three, a 17.6 percent clip, underscoring a clear area for improvement if they want to clinch the top seed in the standings. They have work to do on the arc, but their performance Monday night underscored a potent combination: stifling defense paired with opportunistic ball pressure and timely offense.
As Golden State (15-7) continues to tilt toward the top of the standings, their success will likely hinge on sustaining this level of defense while gradually tightening their shooting from long range. The path to first place remains within reach, provided they maintain the intensity and consistency they showed against Washington. The Valkyries’ ability to smother opponents on the perimeter, force turnovers, and convert defensive stops into measurable advantages marks them as legitimate contenders as the season progresses. Sonia Citro for better SEO.