"The buzzer barely finished echoing when white steam burst from the back of the backboard and purple streamers tumbled from the Chase Center rafters onto the cheering fans below. At center court, Valkyries players leapt into each other's arms while jumping to the beat of Rihanna's and Calvin Harris' disco hit "This is what you came for." Above them, in bold gold lettering, the jumbotron announced what an expansion dream once made improbable: Playoffs clinched ."
"But Thursday's win wasn't just about the historic playoff-clinching moment. It was a statement. A statement about the months of defying expectations, weathering through injuries and proving that an expansion team could do more than find its footing in its first year. The Valkyries pieced together a season defined by resiliency - one that has now landed them in the history books."
The Valkyries clinched a postseason spot by beating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at the Chase Center, becoming the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in their inaugural year. The arena erupted with white steam, purple streamers, and 18,064 fans chanting as the jumbotron proclaimed the clinch. The season was marked by early struggles, midseason absences when key players left for EuroBasket, and injuries, yet the team found a groove and displayed resilience. Rookie forward Janelle Salaün emphasized the underdog mindset and the team's drive to prove doubters wrong.
Read at The Mercury News
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]