It was a tight first quarter. And then — it was a blowout. The Golden State Valkyries won their first playoff game in franchise history, 104-80, over the seventh-seed Dallas Wings on Sunday night. The Valkyries now lead the best-of-three series, 1-0.
The team was shooting well, 50 percent from three. Cecilia Zandalasini sank the team’s first basket and went on to score 22.
But, arguably, the Valkyrie who turned the tide came off the bench.
When Tiffany “Tip” Hayes entered the game late in the first quarter, the Valkyries were trailing by two. Within 11 seconds Hayes had an assist to tie the game. Then she stole the ball from Dallas guard Paige Bueckers and drove to the hoop to take the lead, 14-12. Hayes had been on the court for 28 seconds.
“You could tell the energy just shifted,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said of Hayes’ entry to the game. “She’s hungry.”
Then came the second quarter.
Hayes scored the Valkyries’ first five points in what would be a dominant quarter that put the game out of reach. She scored 15 points within her first six minutes of play and went on to score 21 points. The Valkyries outscored Dallas 37-11 in the second quarter, and went into the half up by 27.
“Tip is just unguardable,” said teammate Gabby Williams after the game. “She’s one of the all-time greats in the league.”
“ I pretty much go into the game feeling like I’m on,” Hayes had said at practice on Saturday. “I’m gonna always come into the game feeling like I’m on and if that’s not the case, I’m gonna always find something that I can do to help the team.”
Hayes was definitely on tonight.
As were her teammates and as was the fan base at Ballhalla, which was – if possible – louder than usual.
“There’s not a silent voice in the crowd, so it’s tough to play here,” Bueckers said of the Valkyries fanbase. “It’s definitely their sixth man.”
A few celebrities joined in on the action: Retired soccer star Megan Rapinoe beat the drum and led the G-S-V chant before the game began, and Bay Area rapper Too $hort performed at half time. For Williams, a local who grew up a big Too $hort fan, it was a surreal evening that ended with her doing a Too $hort call out into the mic: “What’s my favorite word?!?” she yelled to a roaring crowd.
The Valkyries play Game 2 of the series in Dallas on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Pacific.
“We’re already on to the next,” said Nakase. “We’re locked in.”
