Magnificently We Floated!

W 99-62

In one of its most dominant performances of the year, the Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99 to 62. The game is notable because it moves the Valkyries closer to securing a playoff berth in its first year--a feat that nearly everyone thought inconceivable at the start of the season. The game is also notable because this dominant performance came when the circumstances were, in many respects, stacked against our team:

• Shortened Bench . . . Kayla Thornton is out for the year. Tiffany Hayes did not play in the game (due apparently to an illness). Monique Billings was out with a bad ankle. Cecilia Zandalasini was out with a bad calf.

  
  

• . . . But the Team Nonetheless Dominated. We led 51-32 at the half. At one point in the second quarter, Veronica Burton had as many points as the entire Mystics team. We shot nearly 39% from three and 55% from the field. Based on the ESPN win probability tracker, we had an over 90% chance of winning the game less than two minutes into the second quarter.

  
  

• Our Gameplan Works. The Valkyries have settled into a comfortable strategy on offense and defense that has proven successful time and again. On offense, we stick two players in the corners and two at the wings. The point guard makes her move based on an action from the center in the middle, and the players around her react. On defense, we pack the paint and force threes. The offensive strategy does not result in fireworks (we are tenth in the league in points and twelve in assists) but it does mean we make few mistakes (we are in a close pack that is nearby fourth best in the league at not turning the ball over). The defensive strategy forces a lot of three pointers and makes life tough in the paint. If the opponent is not making threes that day, it is very hard to beat us.

Only one (extremely, extremely) small bummer from the game. With less than a minute to go, the Valkyries were at 97 points. Everyone in Ballhalla--and I mean everyone--wanted us to hit 100. Kate "Money" Martin then got fouled on a three point shot and had a chance to hit the mark. The entire stadium was on its feet for these three throws. But the second shot clanked in and out. Oh well.

We have one of our few back-to-back games of the season this weekend. And if we can pull out a victory tonight against the Fever, our chances of making the playoffs get even stronger. Go Team!