The Golden State Valkyries host the New York Liberty at Chase Center on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 10:00 PM ET in San Francisco. New York enters at 24-16 on the season while Golden State sits at 21-18. Both teams are in the playoff picture with only a few games left to play.
This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams this season. New York has won all three prior matchups, including two at home in May and one on the road in June. The Liberty won 95-67 in the first game, followed by 82-77 and 81-78 wins. Each game since the opener has been tighter, showing Golden State has adjusted. This game will be key for seeding in both conferences.
Valkyries Preview – Home crowd has fueled late push
Golden State has been steady at home with a 12-7 record inside Chase Center. The Valkyries are 24-14-1 against the spread this season, one of the best marks in the league. They have gone under the total in 24 of 39 games, ranking among the league’s best under teams.
The Valkyries’ offense is led by I. Rupert, who scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting in their last game. V. Burton has been the playmaker, recording 13 assists to go with 7 rebounds and 8 points in that same contest. J. Salaun and K. Charles have also provided steady production, with Charles grabbing 7 rebounds against Indiana. T. Fagbenle brings interior defense and rebounding.
The loss of K. Thornton to a season-ending knee injury has forced others into bigger roles. Burton’s passing has kept the offense moving despite missing key scoring options. Golden State has leaned on defense and rebounding, holding Indiana to just 63 points in their last outing. They will need another strong defensive showing to slow New York’s frontcourt.
Liberty Preview – Championship core still in control
The Liberty have not matched last year’s dominance but remain one of the league’s top teams. They are 16-5 at home but just 8-11 on the road. Against the spread, New York has struggled with a 14-24-2 record, but they are 17-22-1 on totals, leaning slightly under. Despite some uneven results, New York’s experience and roster depth give them an edge in close games.
New York’s starting five in the last game included B. Stewart, J. Jones, E. Meesseman, N. Cloud, and L. Fiebich. Meesseman was the leading scorer with 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Stewart added 14 points and 6 rebounds, while Cloud scored 13 points and dished out 4 assists. Jones struggled with only 6 points but provided 6 rebounds. Fiebich played 30 minutes but managed just 4 points.
The Liberty remain without N. Sabally due to a knee injury. That has shifted minutes to Meesseman and Jones in the frontcourt. Stewart continues to lead the team with her scoring versatility. The Liberty have held opponents under 80 points in several recent wins, relying on defense as much as scoring. They will look to continue that formula in San Francisco.
Betting Prediction
The Liberty are favored by -5.5 points with a total of 154.5. New York has swept the season series so far, but the last two wins were by five and three points. Golden State has proven they can keep games close, especially at home. Their record against the spread shows they outperform expectations regularly.
The under has hit in all three games between these teams this year. None of the contests have gone over 164 points, with all staying under the posted totals. With New York ranking third in scoring (85.1 points per game) and Golden State ranking third in defense (76.8 points allowed), this game sets up for another low-scoring result. Predicted score: Liberty 78, Valkyries 75. Expect Golden State to cover the spread and the total to stay under again.
Pick: Golden State +5.5 and Under 154.5
