Kitija Laksa and the Dallas Wings opened the WNBA playoffs with a steep road challenge, falling 104-80 to the Golden State Valkyries in the opening game of their quarterfinal series.
How the Valkyries Built a Decisive Margin
The matchup began with a tight opening frame, ending with the Wings trailing narrowly at 21-20 after the first ten minutes. However, the game slipped away in the second quarter. The Valkyries mounted a dominant 37-point offensive surge while clamping down defensively to limit Dallas to just 11 points, building a commanding 58-31 advantage by halftime.
Golden State maintained control through the second half, taking the third quarter 27-25. Although the Wings outscored their hosts 24-19 in the final period, the outcome had long been decided. The final box score reflected a tough night for the seventh-seeded Wings against the second-seeded Valkyries.
Kitija Laksa Delivers Efficient Offense off the Bench
Latvian forward Kitija Laksa made the most of her limited minutes, contributing 11 points during 15 minutes and nine seconds on the court. Laksa spent the entire fourth quarter in the game as head coach and staff managed rotations with the score out of reach.
Laksa shot efficiently from the floor, connecting on one of two two-point attempts and sinking three of her four attempts from beyond the arc. She added one rebound, committed two personal fouls, and finished the game with a positive plus-minus rating of +1. It marks Laksa’s second postseason appearance in the WNBA, following her run to the WNBA Finals last season as a runner-up with the Phoenix Mercury. She joined the Wings this year following an injury to rookie guard Aaliyah Edwards, who was selected first overall in the draft.
Standout Performances Across Both Rosters
Paige Bueckers led the Wings’ scoring efforts, shooting an impressive nine of ten from the field to finish with 21 points. Despite Bueckers’ efficiency, Dallas struggled to contain a balanced Golden State scoring attack.
Cecilia Zandalasini paced the Valkyries with 22 points, while teammate Tiffany Hayes added 21 points.
Series Schedule and Standings Context
The Wings entered the postseason as the seventh seed out of 15 teams in the WNBA regular-season standings, while the Valkyries earned the second seed. With the 104-80 final score, Dallas faces elimination heading into the second game of the quarterfinal series.
The series shifts to Texas for the next matchup. The second game is scheduled for Wednesday in Dallas, where the Wings must secure a win to force a decisive third game.
