30
May
Recap
Steph so close to historic win against Sandy
Superstar Sabrina Ionescu #20 of the New York Liberty celebrates her three point shot in the first half against the Golden State Valkyries at Barclays Center on May 30, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images
Highlights
Australian head coach Sandy Brondello's New York Liberty stay unbeaten, start season 5-0
- WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart dropped 27 points on the Golden State Valkyries
- Australian Steph Talbot finished with nine points
- How to watch every WNBA game in Australia
Australian Stephen Talbot's Golden State Valkyries almost, almost, secured the biggest win in the expansion franchise's history coming within five-points of inflicting Sandy Brondello's New York Liberty's first loss of the season 82-77 at Barclays Center on Friday, May 30, 2025.
Australian Opals coach Brondello's Liberty are now 5-0 in their title defense thanks for Breanna Stewart's 27-point performance and Sabrina Ionescu's 24.
Talbot started for the Valkyries and finished with nine points on 2-from-5 from the field in 20 minutes.
Key Details
- Result: New York Liberty 82 def. Golden State Valkyries 77
- When: May 30, 2025
- Where: Barclays Center, New York
- Standings: Liberty (#1) | Valkyries (#6)
By the Numbers
- Breanna Stewart (Liberty) starred with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks in 34 minutes.
- Janelle Salaun (Valkyries) scored 18 points, and had 13 rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 30 minutes.
What Happened
The Liberty and Valkyries battled through a tightly contested first half, tied 37-37 at halftime. Golden State kept pace throughout the third quarter as both teams scored 20 and 19 points respectively, setting up a crucial final period with the Liberty holding a slim 57-56 advantage.
New York made big buckets in the clutch to secure the five-point victory. Sabrina Ionescu caught fire from beyond the arc, hitting six three-pointers for the game including two crucial triples in the final five minutes that helped the Liberty maintain their perfect record.
Stewart dominated for the Liberty, shooting an efficient 6-from-12 from the field and converting 15-from-19 from the charity stripe. Her 27-point performance included critical defensive plays with three blocks and two steals, showcasing her two-way ability. Ionescu added 24 points on 7-from-21 shooting, including 6-from-15 from downtown.
For the Valkyries, rookie Janelle Salaun led the way with 18 points and 13 rebounds, displaying impressive poise in just her fourth professional game. Kayla Thornton and Monique Billings each contributed 10 points, but Golden State's 29.4 percent shooting from three-point range (10-from-34) ultimately proved costly against New York's more efficient offense.
The Liberty's defensive prowess was evident with seven steals and five blocks compared to the Valkyries' three steals and one block. New York's superior free-throw shooting was a significant factor, as they converted 23-from-27 (85.2 percent) while Golden State managed just 9-from-14 (64.3 percent) from the line.
With this victory, the Liberty remain undefeated at 5-0, solidifying their position atop the WNBA standings. The Valkyries drop to 2-3, sitting in sixth place as they continue their East coast road trip.
