The $30 million toe in the water

The New York Liberty's 87-70 loss to the Golden State Valkyries marks a stunning reversal of fortune for the defending champions. the Liberty, who welcomed the Valkyries to the league with a crushing 2025 expansion franchise in back-to-back games, trailed 25-15 after the first quarter.

Only Breanna Stewart, with a game-high 18 points, and Rebekah Gardner, with a 3-pointer, kept the Liberty in the game. However , Golden State regained control from there, taking an eight-point lead at halftime.

Part of what kept the Liberty in the game was Golden State's cooling off after the start. new York collectively shot 6-for-24 from deep, while the Valkyries converted on 13 of their 35 field goal attempts from behind the arc.

Golden State, which added Gabby Williams in free agency, flustered New York with its scrappy defense and suffocating ball pressure.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The Liberty's loss to the Valkyries raises questions about the team's future. With two days to regroup, the Liberty will host Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wing, but the team's performance will be closely watched after this stunning defeat.

The Liberty's loss also raises questions about the team's ability to adapt to new challenges. The Valkyries, who added Gabby Williams in free aggency , seemed to have the upper hand throughout the game.

The Liberty's loss to the Valkyries is a stark contrast to the team's performance last year,when they welcomed the Valkyries to the league with a crushing 2025 expansion franchise in back-to-back games.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The Liberty's loss to the Valkyries is also reminiscent of the team's performance in 2019, when they suffered a similar defeat to the same team. The 2019 loss was a significant setback for the Liberty, and it remains to be seen whether the team will be able to recover from this latest defeat.

The Liberty's loss to the Valkyries also raises questions about the team's ability to adapt to new challenges. The Valkyries, who added Gabby Williams in free agency, seemed to have the upper hand throughout the game.

The Liberty's loss to the Valkyries is a stark reminder of the team's vulnerability to strong opponents. The Liberty will need to regroup and refocus if they hope to turn their season around.