The New York Liberty travel west to take on the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco. Tip-off is set for 10:00 PM ET on Wednesday, June 25. New York comes into the game at 10-3, while Golden State is 7-6 and climbing in the West.
This will be the third matchup between these teams this season. New York won both earlier games at home, beating the Valkyries 95-67 and 82-77. Golden State gets its first shot to play host and enters with some momentum after a big win over Connecticut.
The Liberty are trying to get back on track after losing three of their last four games. Injuries have played a big role in that stretch, with Jonquel Jones out long-term and Sabrina Ionescu missing time. New York still leads the Eastern Conference and is 6-1 at home but just 4-2 on the road.
Golden State is in its first WNBA season but is already making noise. The Valkyries have wins over Seattle, Indiana, and Las Vegas. If the playoffs started today, they would be in the top eight. A win over New York would be their biggest yet.
Liberty Preview – Hoping to End Rough Patch
New York lost 89-79 to Seattle on Sunday and looked out of sync without Ionescu. The Liberty committed 21 turnovers and gave up 22 points off those mistakes. Breanna Stewart led the team with 18 points and 9 rebounds, but the offense lacked flow.
When healthy, New York leads the WNBA in points per game (88.3), field goal percentage (46.4%), and free throw shooting (82.1%). They are also top three in made threes and assists. Stewart, Ionescu, and Jones form one of the best trios in the league when active.
In Ionescu’s absence, Marine Johannes stepped up with 17 points in the last game. Nyara Sabally added 9 rebounds, and Natasha Cloud recorded 8 assists. New York’s defense is ranked fourth in opponent FG% (40.9%) and limits teams to just 78.4 points per game.
Valkyries Preview – Making a Push in the West
Golden State picked up a strong 87-63 win against the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The Valkyries built a 27-point lead by halftime and never looked back. Kayla Thornton scored 21 points and pulled down 8 rebounds to lead the team.
Golden State is first in the WNBA in rebounding (35.6 per game) and ranks third in steals (9.2). Their aggressive defense helps cover up offensive issues. They shoot just 39.8% from the field and are last in the league in 3-point shooting at 27.5%.
The Valkyries have been strong at home, going 5-2 in San Francisco. They also rank second in offensive rebounding and blocks. Coach Natalie Nakase praised the team’s hustle and effort, especially on defense where they hold teams to just 40.9% shooting.
Betting Prediction
The Liberty are 8.5-point favorites and have won both earlier meetings this season by double digits and five points. They have the better offense and experience, especially if Ionescu is available. New York is averaging over 88 points per game and shoots over 46% from the field.
Golden State will try to slow the pace and win the rebound battle again. But without outside shooting, it’s tough to keep up with a team like New York. Look for the Liberty to score in the mid-80s again and win by 10 or more. The total is 160.5 and trends point to the under again, as both prior games between these teams stayed under.
Pick: Liberty -8.5
