Kaitlyn Chen gave the Valkyries exactly the lift they needed Wednesday night, scoring 15 points off the bench in a 91-80 home win over the Dallas Wings. Golden State turned a nine-point first-quarter deficit into its fourth straight victory, and Chen’s scoring came in the middle of the surge that changed the game.
Chen had not played big minutes all season even while staying in the regular rotation, which made this outing stand out. She had nine points in the first half, seven of them in the second quarter, as Golden State ripped off a 19-0 run and took an 11-point lead into halftime after outscoring Dallas 27-7 in the period.
Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 25 points, and Veronica Burton added 11 points and eight assists as Golden State shot 46% from the field and made 12 of 25 3-point attempts. Paige Bueckers scored 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting for Dallas, which fought back to within two points in the fourth quarter before Golden State closed it out.
That late push is what makes Chen’s night more than a box score line. Kaitlyn Chen and Kaila Charles hit big shots down the stretch to seal the win, and for a player who had spent most of the season as a regular piece without heavy minutes, 15 points was the kind of burst that can change how a coach uses her next time out.
