Lynx Winning Streak Ends At Six In Home Loss To Valkyries

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Lynx saw their six-game winning streak end Monday night, falling to the Golden State Valkyries 80-66 at Target Center.

Minnesota shot just 35.6% from the field and gave the ball away 18 times, mistakes Golden State turned into 21 points. The Valkyries forced 12 steals to Minnesota’s two.

The Lynx trailed only 34-32 at halftime, but Golden State pulled away with a 21-16 third quarter and outscored Minnesota 25-18 down the stretch. Minnesota scored exactly 16 points in each of the first three quarters and never got closer than seven in the fourth.

Natasha Howard led the Lynx with 13 points and seven rebounds, five of them on the offensive glass. Kayla McBride added 12 points but connected on just 2-of-11 from the floor. Napheesa Collier was held to nine points on 4-of-10 shooting, well below her season standard, and grabbed seven rebounds. Maya Caldwell chipped in nine off the bench on 3-of-5 shooting from three-point range.

Cecilia Zandalasini paced Golden State with 18 points. Gabby Williams added 15, while Veronica Burton finished with 14 points, nine assists and five steals. Tiffany Hayes scored 14 off the bench as the Valkyries outscored Minnesota’s reserves 31-15.

The loss comes five days after the Lynx beat the same Valkyries 77-66 in San Francisco, the fifth win of the streak.

Minnesota returns to the floor Sunday, August 30th, when it visits the Atlanta Dream at 2:00 p.m.