Overview

• Golden State’s 72-59 win over the Sparks clinched the season series 3-1 and vaulted the Valkyries into the eighth seed with a direct tiebreak advantage
• Los Angeles answered the next night with a 94-91 comeback over Seattle as Dearica Hamby converted a go-ahead three-point play with 5.6 seconds remaining
• Kelsey Plum finished with 20 points and seven assists in the win, underscoring her growing role as both a scorer and facilitator
• Golden State, Los Angeles and Seattle now sit within one game of each other in the standings, making remaining head-to-head matchups critical for tiebreak scenarios
• Coaches have stressed urgency and mental toughness as every late-season contest could determine which team claims the final Western Conference playoff spot