Late bucket lifts Valkyries over Mystics in a nail-biter

Kate Martin scored 14 points and Iliana Rupert added 11 as the visiting Golden State Valkyries earned a gritty 68-67 win over the Washington Mystics in a game with significant playoff implications.

The Valkyries (13-13), playing short-handed, relied heavily on their defense, holding Washington to just one field goal in the final 7:20 of the game. Veronica Burton notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists, while Temi Fagbenle also scored 10 points.



Janelle Salaun delivered the go-ahead basket with a minute left, pushing Golden State past Washington (13-14) for eighth place and the final playoff spot with a little over a month remaining in the regular season. The expansion team is now 2-0 against the Mystics this year.

Sonia Citron led Washington with 16 points, while Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin each had 10. Austin added nine rebounds as the Mystics wrapped up a five-game homestand with a 2-3 record.


Golden State came out strong, jumping to a 15-9 lead and extending it to 30-20 by the end of the first quarter - their second-highest opening quarter of the season. They led 46-34 at halftime, shooting 51.7% from the field while holding the Mystics to 38.9%.

Washington rallied in the third, cutting the deficit to four before Martin’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer gave Golden State a 62-55 lead heading into the fourth.

The Mystics tied the game with a 7-0 run and briefly took the lead, but struggled offensively down the stretch. Austin gave Washington a late 67-66 edge, but Salaun’s basket and a missed game-winning attempt by Brittney Sykes sealed the Valkyries’ narrow win.