Cecilia Zandalasini made a season-high five 3-pointers and shot a perfect 5-for-5 from behind the arc in the Valkyries’ 84-78 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. Zandalasini became the first player in Valkyries’ franchise history to make at least five 3-pointers in a game without a miss and came one 3-pointer shy of a WNBA record for most 3-pointers without a miss (6 3PM). Zandalasini (15 PTS) was the highest of four Valkyries to score in double figures, joined by Tiffany Hayes (14 PTS), Gabby Williams (11 PTS) and Kayla Thornton (11 PTS). The Valkyries led by as many as 19 points and never trailed, even though they had their deficit trimmed to as little as one point in the fourth quarter. Timely baskets by Hayes, Williams and Janelle Salaün and clutch free throws down the stretch helped the Golden State secure its 23rd win of the season, tying their historic win total in their inaugural season.

ZANDALASINI’S PERFECT QUARTER GETS VALKYRIES OFF TO FAST START
Head coach Natalie Nakase has implored her team to get off to better starts, and they answered that call on Sunday, led by sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini. Zandalasini, who entered Sunday’s game questionable due to left calf soreness, scored the first basket of the game with a left-wing 3-pointer. A few minutes later, she hit another 3-pointer from the same spot that sparked a 9-0 Valkyries run. The Valkyries led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, and both Zandalasini and Gabby Williams shot a perfect 3-for-3 from the field in the frame. All of Williams’ baskets were inside the arc, while Zandalasini did her damage from deep. Sunday's first quarter was Golden State's highest-scoring opening quarter of the season, as they scored 29 points and nearly doubled Los Angeles’ 15 points. 

BURTON PLAYS DISTRIBUTOR AS NINE DIFFERENT VALKYRIES SCORE IN FIRST HALF
The Valkyries had nine different players score in the first half, and the only player who entered the game without scoring was the team’s top distributor, Veronica Burton. Burton led all players with four assists in the half, and three of them were on 3-pointers. Zandalasini, who extended her consecutive made 3-pointers streak to four, finished the half as the game’s top scorer with 12 points. Tiffany Hayes added eight points in eight minutes off the bench, including an acrobatic and-1 finish over 6-foot-4 rim protector Cameron Brink. The Valkyries never trailed in the first half and doubled the Sparks’ assist total over that span, 14-7. 

FIVE OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS ON ONE POSSESSION LEAD TO HAYES 3-POINTER
Midway through the third quarter, the Valkyries were relentless on the offensive glass, securing five offensive rebounds on one possession. Cecilia Zandalasini started the offensive rebound surge, corralling a missed 21-footer by Gabby Williams. Then, Kiah Stokes secured the ball after a missed 3-pointer from Kayla Thornton. The Valkyries were also first to a missed 3-pointer by Williams, and then Thornton forced a jump ball off a missed triple by Veronica Burton. Thornton won that jump ball, helping Golden State again retain possession on a 50-50 hustle play. Finally, Stokes was first to a Kaila Charles miss and found Tiffany Hayes — who had just entered the game before the jump ball — and cashed in a 3-pointer. This sequence was a prime example of the Valkyries’ extra effort directly contributing to the scoreboard. 

STOKES SUSTAINS NECK CONTUSION IN FOURTH QUARTER
Center Kiah Stokes sustained a neck contusion in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game and would not return. Stokes finished with five points, seven rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes. She has started at center in every game for the Valkyries this season, so her status is worth monitoring when the Valkyries next take the court on Wednesday. Sixth Player of the Year candidate, Janelle Salaün, played the majority of the center minutes in Stokes’ absence. 

WILLIAMS AND SALAÜN CLOSE THE GAME, PREVENT SPARKS COMEBACK
The Sparks went on a 26-8 run in the fourth quarter to pull within one point (74-73). However, the Valkyries didn’t fold and regained control. Gabby Williams intercepted an outlet pass and then attacked in the halfcourt, banking in a runner off the glass. Then, Janelle Salaün hit the dagger, draining a left-wing 3-pointer with 33.7 seconds remaining that put the Valkyries up by six points. From there, all they had to do was make free throws. Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton made a pair each and Williams added one more to seal the win. 

UP NEXT
The Valkyries return to Ballhalla for their bestie Violet’s birthday celebration when they host the Chicago Sky at Chase Center on Wednesday. 

By the Numbers