The Golden State Valkyries smiled at each other after sweeping the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, in the semifinals. They had defeated a team led by the reigning MVP, but more importantly, the Valkyries ‘ self-confidence had triumphed over the doubts of many. And one Indiana Fever star could see the key behind their success.
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The Valkyries played their first season just a year ago, and now they are in the WNBA Finals. They beat the Aces in their building to complete the sweep on their way to the title game. According to Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham, the mantra of the Valkyries’ success was their attitude.
“I think something that is so hard about Golden State is that they truly all know their role, and they f*cking dominate their role,” the Fever star said on her No Hesitation podcast. “They know it, and they stay in it…They had four All-Star appearances amongst their whole team, combined. That’s insane, but they all work hard, and they all don’t care about the awards. Their egos are not in the way. All they want to do is win. And that’s why they’ve been on top of the W all year round. So I’m not surprised by this.”
The Valkyries have reached the WNBA Finals without a regular-season MVP or one superstar dominating the spotlight. Even Gabby Williams, a two-time All-Star, is part of a group that has found its rhythm remarkably quickly in just its second season. That is what makes Sophie Cunningham’s no-ego assessment ring true. If that chemistry holds up against the Atlanta Dream, it could be the difference in the Finals.
After the Valkyries took a 2-0 lead in the series, it looked like the Aces were ready to cut the series deficit to 2-1 in Game 3. The Valkyries trailed by nine points by halftime. But then came the third quarter, and the best defensive team in the league held the defending champions to just 7 points. They took a 10-point lead in the quarter.
The Aces made a comeback in the fourth quarter, taking a six-point lead with three minutes remaining in regulation. The Valkyries then went on an 8-0 run, with contributions from four players, taking a 71-69 lead. Jackie Young sent the game into overtime with a two-pointer. In the next five minutes, the Valkyries outscored the Aces 16-6 to sweep the series.
The Aces had a championship roster, with overwhelming championship experience, and a championship coach. This was the first time in Becky Hammon era that the Aces have been swept, and coaching the opposing side was Hammon’s former assistant coach, Natalie Nakase. Hammon’s response to the Valkyries’ success wasn’t different from Cunningham: the Valkyries were a success because they had selfless players.
“That is a TEAM, and I think they really play great team ball…On any given night, any of them can have 15, 20 on you because they share the ball, and…it seems like nobody cares who gets the credit,” Hammon told reporters after the loss, per Madisyn Cunningham. “And that’s a really special thing to have on a team, and I think Golden State has that.”
It was a bittersweet moment for Nakase, who walked the tunnel with her head down. She had defeated Hammon, who brought her to the WNBA, and someone Nakase considers family.
Gabby Williams once again proved why she might be underrated. She ended the game with 16 points. But her biggest contribution came in overtime when she scored 8 of the Valkyries’ 16 points.
“It feels special because this is a special group,” Williams said. “We’re about to have some bandwagoners, but we ain’t got no love all season. Nobody believed in us, but it made us smile because we were like, ‘All we need is each other.’”
The Valkyries have completed their sweep of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces and now stand one series away from a title. Next up is the Atlanta Dream, with Game 1 of the WNBA Finals set for Chase Center in San Francisco.