Golden State (2-2) at New York (4-0)
- When: May 29 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- TV: WWOR
WNBA Preview and Prediction: Golden State Valkyries vs. New York Liberty
Spread: New York -18.0 | Total: 163.0
New York Liberty
The Liberty are rolling into Thursday’s rematch looking every bit like the defending WNBA champs. After dismantling Golden State 95-67 in the first leg of the back-to-back in Brooklyn, New York has now opened the 2025 season a perfect 4-0, outscoring three of those four opponents by 14 or more.
Their offense is humming, putting up a league-best 94 points per game, and Tuesday was another 3-point showcase. Marine Johannes led a perimeter barrage with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting from deep off the bench, while Breanna Stewart dropped 24 and continues to dominate as the team’s top scorer (19.3 PPG). All five Liberty starters hit from beyond the arc, fueling a 14-of-35 team effort from three.
New York’s defense has also been elite forcing 20 turnovers on Tuesday and holding the Valkyries to just 67 points, their lowest allowed total of the season. With strong ball movement, elite spacing, and a relentless pace, the Liberty are smothering opponents on both ends. They’ll look to keep that blueprint intact while covering a large spread at home.
Golden State Valkyries
The WNBA’s newest franchise came into this week with a promising 2-1 start, but reality hit hard Tuesday night. Golden State’s 28-point blowout was a harsh reminder of how far they still have to go to match up with top-tier teams like the Liberty. Their offense continues to struggle with consistency 67 points marked their second-lowest output through four games, and they’ve yet to eclipse the 82-point mark.
Turnovers remain a major concern, especially against fast-paced opponents like New York. Coach Natalie Nakase admitted that careless play feeds directly into transition 3-point looks for the opposition a dangerous combo when facing a team that lives beyond the arc.
Kayla Thornton leads the Valkyries in scoring (12.8 PPG), but that still falls short of what New York’s secondary scorers are producing. Golden State will need a near-perfect performance just to stay competitive.
Gambling Analysis & Score Prediction
New York’s depth, firepower, and defense are too much for an expansion team still finding its footing. Expect another convincing win and a solid chance they cover that big number again.
Score Prediction: New York 91, Golden State 68
Best Bet: New York -18.0
Total: Under 163.0
- WNBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
