> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Instant Takeaways: Fourth-Quarter Defense Fuels Storm to First-Ever Win Over Valkyries - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/fourth-quarter-defense-fuels-storm-first-ever-win-over-valkyries/ - Published: 2025-07-16T22:21:15.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:58:58.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: Storm, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Gabby Williams, Erica Wheeler, Dominique Malonga, Ezi Magbegor [Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2223683407?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) The Seattle Storm used a stonewalling defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold on in a slow-paced, gritty 67-58 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, July 16, at Climate Pledge Arena. Seattle (14-9) earned its first win over the Valkyries in franchise history after Golden State (10-12) took the first two games of the season series in their inaugural campaign as the league’s newest franchise. In the first two matchups, the Valkyries dominated defensively. The Storm decided it was their turn. Here’s what we learned from the Storm’s critical victory on Wednesday. ### **Best defensive performance of the season, especially in crunch time** The Storm shut down the Valkyries in the fourth quarter via stifling defense, holding Golden State without a field goal for the final 4:48 of the game. The Valkyries had just one field goal made in the final 6:38, with almost all of their points coming on free throws near the end. Seattle forced 14 turnovers, including five in the fourth quarter alone. Entering the game as the third-worst interior scoring defense in the league (37.5 points in the paint allowed per game), the Storm held the Valkyries to just 22 points in that area on Wednesday. They had allowed a combined 92 points in the paint in the first two matchups with Golden State this season. Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes, who have combined to average 28 points per game this season for Golden State, totaled just seven points. Cecilia Zandalasini (12 points) and Janelle Salaun (10 points) carried the load for the Valkyries as the only players in double figures. Golden State’s 58 points were the fewest Seattle has given up in a game since July 1, 2022, in a 73-57 win over the Indiana Fever. ### **Sloppy offense on both sides** While both teams’ defenses made things difficult for the other side, it was also just a sloppy offensive performance by each team. They combined for just 26 assists in the game, neither group shot well from beyond the arc (combined 14 for 60) and they both converted less than 33 percent of their shots. There were plenty of good looks, also, but it just wasn’t the Storm or Valkyries’ best shooting day. These are the kinds of games Seattle has struggled in this season, particularly because they fail to consistently rebound their opponents’ misses. However, this was one of the Storm’s best rebounding performances of the season with added context. They still lost the overall battle on the boards 35-33, but the Valkyries are the second-best rebounding team in the league. That close gap, coupled with Golden State’s offensive struggles, allowed the Storm to keep a lead most of the game. Nneka Ogwumike poured in a game-high 22 points while also pulling down eight rebounds. Erica Wheeler added 15 points, and Skylar Diggins totaled 10 points and six assists. Ezi Magbegor grabbed eight rebounds — her second straight game with at least seven boards. ### **Where’s Dominique Malonga?** For the first time all season, Malonga didn’t play at all against the Valkyries. She had played at least one minute in every game this season, but was left on the bench versus Golden State. Malonga also played just three minutes in the Storm’s 74-69 loss to the Washington Mystics on Sunday, as head coach Noelle Quinn appears keen on keeping her as a matchup-based rotational player. If Quinn doesn’t see a favorable situation, she’s perfectly fine leaving Malonga on the bench. To be fair, the Storm didn’t need her in this game with the rest of the team rebounding well and playing sound defense. But, curiously, she isn’t seeing her minutes continue to increase as the season goes on — if anything, her role has decreased over the last five games. ### **In the bigger picture** The Storm head to the All-Star break having played just over half of their scheduled games (23) this season. They are currently fourth in the league standings and third in the Western Conference hierarchy behind the Minnesota Lynx (20-4) and Phoenix Mercury (15-7). Nine of the WNBA’s 13 teams have at least 10 wins, making it a very small gap between the middling teams. Seattle is two games back from being second in the league and just four games ahead of ninth place. Any small losing streak could plummet Seattle’s playoff positioning, and that essentially goes for any team at this point in the season. The Storm are 6-4 over their last 10 games. They will need a better winning percentage than that in the second half of the season to make a push for being one of the top playoff contenders. ### **All-Star weekend** Gabby Williams, Diggins, Ogwumike and Wheeler will each be participating in this weekend’s All-Star festivities beginning on Friday, July 18\. Diggins and Wheeler will compete in Friday’s skills challenge, while Diggins, Williams and Ogwumike will play in the All-Star game at 5:30 p.m. PT on Saturday, July 19. Williams is alone on Team Clark (led by captain Caitlin Clark), while Ogwumike and Diggins will play for Team Collier (led by captain Napheesa Collier). Following the break, Seattle will finish a four-game home stand against the Dallas Wings (6-16) at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22\.