Golden State ValkyriesvsPortland Fire
GS 86/POR 69
Things to say
Golden State beat Portland 86-69 at the Moda Center.
01
opener
Valkyries just went into Portland and took care of business. Never really close, 86-69. Fire couldn't buy a bucket all night.
02
key player
Tiffany Hayes was the best player on the floor, 18 points, filling it up. She just ate them up.
03
hot take
Portland scoring 69 at home is rough. That's not a defense problem, that's an offense that ran out of gas.
04
deep cut
Kaila Charles quietly grabbed 8 boards, and Veronica Burton ran the show with 6 dimes. Valkyries won the little stuff.
05
exit
GS at 29-11 now, they're locked in for the playoffs. Portland's just playing out the string.
The recap
Golden State rolled into Portland and handled business, 86-69, never really letting the Fire hang around. Tiffany Hayes led the way with 18 to pace a balanced Valkyries attack, and once the defense clamped down Portland couldn't buy a bucket, capped at a rough 69.
Emily Engstler's 12 was as good as it got for the home side, and nobody else stepped up to carry the load. Golden State moves to 29-11 and looks every bit the contender; Portland took the L and sinks to 16-24.