"A wildly successful first regular season concluded with a Valkyries loss in Minneapolis on Thursday night. For the second time in a week, the expansion team was stymied by top-seeded Minnesota in what ended up being a preview of Golden State's first round playoff series. The host Lynx, who did not rest their starters despite having locked up the No. 1 seed, suffocated the Valkyries 72-53 loss in the season finale at Target Center."
"The Valkyries, which would have secured the No. 6 seed with a victory, shot a ghastly 28.8% from the field, committed 21 turnovers and started 0 of 17 from 3-point distance as it slid into the No. 8 slot. Even if the visitors had been able to manufacture easier baskets, they still would have had no answer for arguably the game's best player. Napheesa Collier entered the game averaging 23.0 points per game, and she poured in 19 points using a variety of smooth jumpers."
"After trailing 34-22 at halftime, the Valkyries were able to cut the deficit to 45-41 by the end of the third quarter after Rupert hit back-to-back triples to snap Golden State's wretched start from long range. However, the reigning championship runner up showed why they're title favorites by starting the fourth on a 12-0 run to retake control. Rupert appeared to injure herself on a fall during a fight for a rebound early in the fourth quarter, and she left the game with seven minutes remaining."
Minnesota Lynx defeated the expansion Golden State Valkyries 72-53, ending the regular season and previewing their first-round playoff matchup. Golden State shot 28.8% from the field, went 0-for-17 from three, and committed 21 turnovers, falling to the No. 8 seed instead of potentially earning No. 6. Napheesa Collier paced Minnesota with 19 points after entering the game averaging 23.0 points per contest. Iliana Rupert briefly sparked a comeback with back-to-back threes, but Minnesota opened the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run. Rupert exited late with an apparent injury and Golden State emptied its bench as the deficit grew.
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