The Golden State Valkyries edged the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 in overtime to clinch the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed, while the Portland Fire concluded their campaign with a 90-82 overtime win against Golden State on Tuesday.
The Golden State Valkyries secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference Division by defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 in overtime on Thursday night, Sept. 25. The victory was driven by a decisive 17-4 run to close out the contest, allowing Kaitlyn Chen to score 14 of her game-high 18 points in the fourth quarter alone. The win spoils Nneka Ogwumike’s final regular-season appearance and sets up a home playoff opener for Golden State.
Golden State Valkyries Performance
The Valkyries (32-12) overcame significant roster limitations to seal their playoff positioning. Five key rotation players were listed as Out for the game: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Shyanne Sellers, Cameron Brink, Aaliyah Nye, and Iliana Rupert. Despite these absences, the starting unit executed when it mattered most. Veronica Burton orchestrated the offense with five assists, while Kiah Stokes dominated the glass with 12 rebounds.
Gabby Williams provided critical support down the stretch, adding eight points in the final 90 seconds of regulation to complement Chen’s surge. The team’s resilience allowed them to overcome an early deficit and force overtime, where they maintained composure to secure the one-point margin. This result solidifies Golden State as heavy contenders, trailing only the top-seeded Lynx for the title favorites spot entering the postseason.
Los Angeles Sparks Performance
The Los Angeles Sparks (16-27) fought hard but ultimately fell short in what served as the final regular-season game for Hall of Fame center Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike filled the stat sheet with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, leading the Sparks in all three categories. Her performance underscored her enduring impact, though she fell just short of helping Los Angeles avoid elimination from the playoff picture entirely.
The Sparks struggled to contain Golden State’s late-game execution. While they held an early lead, they could not answer the Valkyries’ 17-4 closing run. The loss marked a difficult end to a rebuilding season for Los Angeles, who finished with a 16-27 record. Ogwumike’s departure leaves a significant void in the frontcourt, ending an era for the franchise.
Portland Fire Season Finale
In a separate matchup earlier in the week on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the Portland Fire (17-27) concluded their season with a 90-82 overtime victory over the same Golden State Valkyries at home. The Fire managed a double-digit win despite six key players being listed as Out: Holly Winterburn, Nyadiew Puoch, Teja Oblak, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Iliana Rupert.
Bridget Carleton led all scorers for Portland with 26 points, providing the offensive firepower needed to secure the win. Jordan Harrison orchestrated the offense effectively with 10 assists, while Emily Engstler controlled the paint with 11 rebounds. Carla Leite delivered the decisive moments, making the tiebreaking basket with 1:57 left in overtime and converting a three-point play with 26.5 seconds remaining. The victory provided a positive end to a challenging 17-27 campaign for the fifth-place Western Conference team.
Valkyries Struggle in Portland
The Golden State Valkyries faced difficulties in the Tuesday matchup, losing 90-82 to the Fire. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points, while Veronica Burton contributed across the board with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. However, the Valkyries could not match Portland’s clutch execution in overtime.
This loss highlighted the challenges Golden State faced when dealing with extensive injuries to their bench depth. The team had to rely heavily on their starters against a resilient Portland squad that capitalized on late-game opportunities. The defeat served as a stark contrast to their subsequent victory over the Sparks, demonstrating the volatility of the final stretch of the regular season.
Turning Points and Keys
- Chen’s Fourth Quarter Surge: Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter, directly powering the Valkyries’ comeback against the Sparks.
- Ogwumike’s Final Stand: Nneka Ogwumike recorded a triple-double threat line (17 pts, 15 reb, 5 ast), but it was not enough to overcome Golden State’s late run.
- Leite’s Overtime Heroics: Carla Leite’s tiebreaking basket and three-point play sealed the 90-82 win for Portland over Golden State two days prior.
- Depth Deficits: Both teams played with severely depleted benches, yet Portland’s available rotation outscored Golden State in the Tuesday matchup.
What It Means Next
The Golden State Valkyries return home to Chase Center to host the Dallas Wings on Monday, Sept. 28, in their final regular-season tune-up before the playoffs tip off on Sunday. As the No. 2 seed, they will look to carry the momentum from their overtime win against Los Angeles into the postseason. The top-seeded Lynx are viewed as favorites for the title, but the Valkyries have proven they can execute under pressure.
For the Los Angeles Sparks, the season is over. The focus now shifts to organizational planning following Nneka Ogwumike’s retirement. For the Portland Fire, there are no upcoming games scheduled. They have completed their regular-season schedule, ending with a win that showcased the toughness of their core group despite the injuries that plagued the roster throughout the year.
🎧 Listen daily to both teams
Beatline Sports covers every team, every day — new episodes each morning.