The Golden State Valkyries secured a 76-67 victory over the visiting New York Liberty on Sunday night at Chase Center, underscoring the Liberty’s ongoing struggles this season. The outcome marked the second consecutive defeat for New York against Golden State, highlighting issues that have plagued the Liberty despite their roster's high expectations.
The Valkyries built a commanding lead early, finishing the second quarter on an 11-0 run to establish a 41-29 advantage at halftime—the lowest-scoring half the Liberty have experienced this season. Golden State maintained control in the third quarter, with key plays from Kaila Charles and Janelle Salaun extending the lead to 64-48 heading into the final period. The Liberty were unable to narrow the gap in the fourth quarter, allowing the Valkyries to close out the game comfortably.
The Liberty’s lineup has been hampered by injuries in recent matchups against Golden State. Leonie Fiebich and Sabrina Ionescu were absent from the first meeting due to overseas commitments and a left foot injury, respectively, while Satou Sabally missed Sunday’s contest under concussion protocol. These absences have compounded the team’s challenges, contributing to a string of losses to teams considered less formidable this season, including defeats to the Washington Mystics, Chicago Fire, Los Angeles Sparks, and Seattle Storm.
Despite these setbacks, Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb emphasized the team’s depth and preparedness for the rigors of the season, yet the results have suggested inconsistencies in performance. After a recent loss to Seattle, center Jonquel Jones publicly addressed the team's insufficient effort and lack of competitiveness, pointing to a recurring issue of the Liberty being outworked in key moments.
Coach Chris DeMarco, making his return to Chase Center after previously serving as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, stressed the need for his squad to maintain intensity and match the Valkyries’ physicality throughout the entire game. “We have to play a full 40-minute game and match their physicality,” DeMarco said. “We have to understand how we want to attack them and know what their strengths are.” However, the Liberty fell short in several areas, including being outrebounded 30-22, committing 12 turnovers that led to 15 points for Golden State, and allowing an additional 15 second-chance points.
With the Liberty now slipping from their preseason aspirations, the team faces mounting pressure to address these deficiencies if they intend to regain a competitive edge and reestablish themselves among the league’s elite.