The Golden State Valkyries defended their home floor Sunday at Chase Center in San Francisco, turning back the New York Liberty 76-67 in a game that showcased balanced contributions from the hosts and a valiant but ultimately insufficient one-woman show from New York’s Jonquel Jones.
Kaila Charles led all Golden State scorers with 13 points, but the night’s most complete performance belonged to Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, who orchestrated the offense with a game-high 8 assists while also pulling down a team-best 6 rebounds. Burton’s ability to control the pace and distribute the ball proved critical in keeping the Liberty’s defense off-balance throughout the contest.
For New York, Jones was nothing short of spectacular in a losing effort. The Liberty forward finished with a game-high 21 points and 7 rebounds — easily outpacing every other player on the floor in scoring — but she received limited support from her teammates. Pauline Astier led New York with 4 assists, the only other Liberty player to appear in the statistical leaders.
The shooting numbers told a stark story for the visiting Liberty. New York connected on just 21 of 52 field goal attempts, a 40 percent clip that left too many possessions without reward. The Liberty did show some willingness to work from beyond the arc, launching 25 three-point attempts and converting 9 of them at a 36 percent rate, but those numbers were not enough to overcome Golden State’s more efficient offensive execution. New York also went 16-of-21 from the free-throw line, converting at 76 percent — points that kept the game within reach but could not close the nine-point gap.
Turnovers compounded New York’s shooting struggles. The Liberty committed 11 individual turnovers, with one additional team turnover bringing their total to 12 giveaways on the evening. In a game decided by single digits, those miscues represented costly missed opportunities to generate offense and chip away at the Valkyries’ lead. New York also picked up two technical fouls during the contest, adding further momentum to the home side at key moments.
On the boards, the Liberty finished with 24 total rebounds — 4 offensive and 20 defensive — but Golden State’s Burton anchored the Valkyries’ rebounding effort with her 6 boards, helping limit New York’s second-chance opportunities. New York managed 5 steals and 1 block defensively, but those takeaways were not enough to generate the transition offense needed to overcome the deficit.
The nine-point final margin reflected a game in which Golden State controlled enough of the key variables — ball movement, limiting turnovers, and interior presence — to keep Jones and the Liberty at arm’s length. Burton’s 8-assist performance was the engine of the Valkyries’ offense, ensuring that Charles and her teammates received quality looks rather than forcing the issue against a New York defense that did generate some disruption.
The victory gives Golden State a meaningful home win and reinforces Chase Center as a difficult venue for opponents in the young franchise’s existence. For the Liberty, the loss underscores a recurring concern: when Jones cannot get consistent help from supporting players, New York’s offense stalls at the worst possible moments. The 12 turnovers and 40 percent shooting are numbers the Liberty will need to address quickly as the WNBA season continues.
