SAN FRANCISCO -- The Golden State Valkyries opened their playoff run with their best offensive performance of the season Sunday.
The Valkyries scored the most points in franchise history, beating the Dallas Wings 104-80 in Game 1 of the best-of-three first-round series. They also tied their franchise record of 18 made 3-pointers in a single game -- which is also the second-most in a playoff game in WNBA history (the Aces hit 23 in Game 2 of the 2022 semifinals).
"It's really hard for teams to match up correctly or get into them if we're pushing [the pace] at a good rate," Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said.
Golden State became the first team in WNBA history to have six players hit multiple 3-pointers. Cecilia Zandalasini hit four 3s and finished with a game-high 22 points. Tiffany Hayes hit three 3-pointers and had 21 points, while Gabby Williams made two 3s (20 points), and Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton hit two as well.
The onslaught of scoring began in the second quarter, when the Valkyries outscored the Wings 37-11, including a 20-3 run over the last four minutes of the period.
"A 37-point quarter is insane work," Dallas guard Paige Bueckers said. "They got whatever they wanted."
Bueckers said the Valkyries' scoring barrage was because the Wings did not stay disciplined to their defensive game plan: limiting turnovers and guarding the 3-point line.
But it didn't matter whether the 3 was open or contested. The Valkyries made 12 contested 3s, the second-most by any team over the past five postseasons. Only the Aces had more (15 in Game 2 of the 2022 semifinals).
Williams said the Valkyries played with a new level of patience on the offensive end Sunday and were "able to be a lot more particular about what looks we're trying to get."
Nakase elaborated: "Sometimes we want to attack, attack, attack to the point where we're running into each other. The discipline in spacing tonight, the patience in terms of when we attacked was really good ... and when that ball is moving ... it's key to our execution."
At practice Saturday, Nakase noted that to get their offense in a flow, it had to start with the Valkyries' signature defense -- making stops to allow them to push in transition.
Not knowing whether they will shoot a high percentage, relying on physicality is how they can find a rhythm. It's what happened Sunday.
"We're just getting stops and running and trying to tire them out," Williams said.
Bueckers agreed: "It starts with their defense. They don't let their offense dictate their defense; it's the other way around. When they're flying around, getting stops, shots tend to go in more for them. It's tough on a team like that when you're never going to get their worst night defensively. They might miss shots, they might miss 3s, but they're always locked in defensively."
It's something the Wings need to emulate, Beuckers said, adding that her team has a "nasty habit" of letting made or missed shots on offense dictate their defensive effort.
"This is the playoffs, so it's really unacceptable," Bueckers said.
Bueckers finished the game with 21 points on 9-of-10 shooting, making her the first player in WNBA history to shoot 90% or better in a 20-point performance in their playoff debut. But she said every bucket was earned, not given. That is OK to the Valkyries.
"She's an excellent player -- one of the best in the league," Williams said. "As long as I can make [her shots] hard where she has to really work for them, she will get tired. That's the goal. She's going to get them, but how can I wear her down?"