Pauline Astier scored seven points quickly in the first quarter, but the Golden State Valkyries ran away late and beat the New York Liberty 87-70 on Thursday in New York.
Golden State’s margin looked decisive in the numbers: the Valkyries led 42-34 at halftime, then held New York to just 12 points in the third quarter. The visitors made 13 of 35 3-point attempts as a team, compared with New York’s 6 of 24, and that efficiency from long range separated the score.
Gabby Williams paced Golden State with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and also had two rebounds and two assists. Janelle Salaün chipped in 11 points with six rebounds and two steals. For New York, Breanna Stewart finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Marine Johannes went scoreless in 26 minutes, finishing 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
The Liberty came into the matchup as the best offense in the WNBA, but they could not find a rhythm after halftime. Golden State’s defense tightened when it mattered most, turning what had been an open, high-scoring game into a stretch where New York produced little offense and the Valkyries’ outside shooting did the rest.
There was a notable French presence on the floor: Williams and Salaün for Golden State, and Astier and Johannes for New York. Basket USA reported the result improved Golden State to 3-1 while New York fell to 3-2.
The tension in the game was simple and sharp. Astier’s burst in the opening quarter suggested a rookie ready to shoulder responsibility in the lineup; she was described as already very responsible in the absence of Sabrina Ionescu. But after her early scoring, she faded under Golden State’s defensive pressure. At the same time, Johannes’ scoreless night and poor marksmanship from behind the arc undercut New York’s usual offensive firepower.
This was not a small defeat on the stat sheet. Being held to 70 points and limited to 12 in a single quarter exposed a gap between what New York had been—a top offensive team—and what it produced on Thursday. Golden State’s 3-point accuracy and timely stops flipped the matchup and left the Liberty unable to mount a comeback.
For Astier, the game was both promise and a reminder. Her quick seven points showed she can score in bursts at this level; the rest of the night showed she will need support to make those bursts into sustained impact. New York’s 3-2 mark after the loss keeps the season early, but it also makes clear that the Liberty must find more consistent scoring beyond that opening flash if they expect to reclaim the league’s offensive form.
