Golden State Valkyries at Seattle Storm
· Women's National Basketball AssociationWheeler's go-ahead jumper gives Storm a 74-73 win over Valkyries to secure last WNBA playoff spot
Seattle (23-21) clinched the 20th postseason appearance in franchise history.
After Wheeler's pull-up jumper from the free-throw line, Janelle Salaun missed a shot in the lane but she got another chance following an offensive rebound. Salaun missed a corner 3-pointer and Wheeler secured the loose ball.
Nneka Ogwumike finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, Brittney Sykes scored 14 and Skylar Diggins had 10 points and six assists for Seattle. Wheeler was 5 of 7 on 3-pointers.
Salaun had 22 points and five 3-pointers for Golden State (23-20), which became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season on Thursday. Temi Fagbenle scored 14 points and Veronica Burton had 14 points and 11 assists. Kaila Charles added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Golden State went on a 13-0 run — started by three straight 3-pointers by Salaun and Monique Billings — to take a 60-50 lead late in the third quarter. The Valkyries were 4 of 4 from distance in the third before missing their first six of the fourth.
Seattle scored the opening 10 points of the fourth, capped by a 3-pointer by Wheeler, to take a 63-61 lead.
Regular Season Series
Series tied 2-2
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 73 - 74 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 73 - 74 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
(00:00) [Golden State Valkyries] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (CALL OVERTURNED) | 73 - 74 |
| 4th 2.2 |  |
Erica Wheeler defensive rebound | 73 - 74 |
| 4th 7.0 |  |
Janelle Salaun misses 22-foot three point step back jumpshot | 73 - 74 |
Statistics
 GS |
 SEA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 26-65 | FG | 26-64 |
| 40 | Field Goal % | 41 |
| 10-29 | 3PT | 7-17 |
| 34 | Three Point % | 41 |
| 11-14 | FT | 15-20 |
| 79 | Free Throw % | 75 |
| 35 | Rebounds | 37 |
| 10 | Offensive Rebounds | 13 |
| 25 | Defensive Rebounds | 24 |
| 18 | Assists | 18 |
| 9 | Steals | 4 |
| 4 | Blocks | 7 |
| 9 | Turnovers | 13 |
| 2 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 11 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 12 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 12 |
| 2 | Fast Break Points | 14 |
| 30 | Points in Paint | 30 |
| 16 | Fouls | 16 |
| 10 | Largest Lead | 3 |
Game Information
Location: Seattle, WA
Attendance: 12,500 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 11 | W1 | 0.75 | 33 |
 Golden State |
1 | 12 | W1 | 0.72727275 | 32 |
 Las Vegas |
2 | 13 | W7 | 0.70454544 | 31 |
 Dallas |
6 | 17 | W1 | 0.6136364 | 27 |
 Portland |
16 | 27 | W1 | 0.38636363 | 17 |
 Los Angeles |
17 | 28 | L2 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Phoenix |
17 | 28 | L1 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Seattle |
25 | 36 | L5 | 0.18181819 | 8 |
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