The road to Ballhalla runs through fire — and Saturday night in Minneapolis was no exception as the Golden State Valkyries faced off against the Minnesota Lynx in a thrilling battle. The showdown between the Golden State Valkyries vs Minnesota Lynx was one for the books.
The Golden State Valkyries kicked off their four-game road trip with an 82–71 loss to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (16-2) at a roaring Target Center. The Lynx remain perfect at home (10-0), and they had to earn every bit of this one.

💥 The Surge — Then the Slip
Midway through the third, Tiffany Hayes lit the spark: two quick 3s, part of a 10-0 Valkyries run that briefly handed Golden State a 56–54 lead. You could feel the upset brewing — the purple wave cresting.
But the Lynx? They didn’t blink.
Napheesa Collier, the league’s top scorer and MVP front-runner, powered a 15–4 Lynx run to close the quarter and flip the script — again. By the start of the fourth, Minnesota had built a 69–60 cushion and never gave it back.
🔮 What We Saw in the Shield
Despite the final score, this one had flashes during the intense contest between the Golden State Valkyries vs Minnesota Lynx:
- Tiffany Hayes continues to be a firestarter.
- Laeticia Amihere brought trademark energy off the bench.
- The Valkyrie defense held the Lynx below their season average — they just couldn’t finish possessions or match Minnesota’s depth down the stretch.
This team is still finding its road legs, but they’re battling — even against the WNBA’s best.
Up Next
📍 Monday @ Atlanta Dream
Second stop on the road swing after the Golden State Valkyries vs Minnesota Lynx matchup. A bounce-back opportunity — and we know this team doesn’t stay down long.