Valkyries become WNBA's winningest expansion team ever after dominating Sky
With a 90-59 blowout over the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena, the Valkyries notched their 18th victory, passing the 1998 Detroit Shock for most wins by a WNBA expansion team.
The 31-point victory was their largest of the season, and their 51.9% shooting percentage from 3-point range surpassed the season-high they set in Washington two nights before.
With its first four-game winning streak, Golden State (18-15) edged above Indiana for sixth place, taking a half-game lead after the Fever fell to the Washington Mystics on Friday.
It was another 3-point jamboree for the Valkyries, who made 27 shots and all but 13 were from behind the arc.
The Valkyries went 22-for-25 from the free-throw line.
Cecilia Zandalasini tallied a career-high 20 points, matching her total from two nights prior. Janelle Salaün finished with 15 points and had three 3-pointers in the first quarter alone. Iliana Rupert added 14 points on 4-for-4 3-point shooting off the bench.
The Valkyries went 7-for-10 from 3-point range in the first quarter, carrying over from their previous season-best 3-point shooting night in Washington on Wednesday.
Golden State led by as much as 12 in the first half but held on 42-40 heading into the half. The Valkyries quickly expanded their lead to 20 after taking 13 free throws in the third quarter alone. They finished the frame on a 25-5 run.
Chicago (8-25) scored just 19 points in the second half.
The Valkyries held the Sky to 28 paint points, a key in shutting down the post-heavy team. Chicago scored 52 points in the paint in its lone win of the 11-game post-All-Star break free-fall. In the Valkyries' narrow Aug. 1 victory at Chicago, the Sky nearly came back on their interior scoring.
Golden State returns to Chase Center on Sunday against the Atlanta Dream to begin a two-game homestand and the final quarter of the season.
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