inside the liberty What the Liberty hope to take away from a sobering loss to the Valkyries By Madeline Kenney Published May 22, 2026, 3:00 p.m. ET The Valkyries' Kaila Charles (standing) and Liberty guard Rebekah Gardner fight for the ball during Golden State's win on May 21, 2026. Tom Horak-Imagn Images Thursday’s loss to the Golden State Valkyries was not how the Liberty imagined they would open their two-and-a-half-week homestand.
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The Liberty allowed the Valkyries to score 25 points in the first quarter to take a double-digit lead. New York got within two in the second before Golden State regained control of the game.
The Valkyries’ defense, the WNBA’s best-rated unit, frustrated the Liberty, who ultimately lost by 17.
“Everyone is self-critical in a situation like that,” Satou Sabally said. “No one is happy with that outcome.”
