Seattle Storm at Golden State Valkyries

We do not want to get in the habit of laying points with this Golden State Valkyries team, but this is a spot where the matchup points us clearly in that direction.

Golden State may not be loaded with star power, but the Valkyries are smart, organized, and efficient. Early in the season, that matters. Teams that know who they are tend to outperform teams still searching for an identity, and that is the biggest difference in this matchup.

Seattle is in the early stages of a rebuild, and while there is plenty to like long term, the growing pains are going to be real. Awa Fam and Dominique Malonga look like the future pillars of the Storm frontcourt, and it will be fun to watch that foundation develop. But asking young players to immediately anchor consistent winning basketball is a big ask.

The same applies offensively. Flau’jae Johnson could very well end up being Seattle’s leading scorer this season, and while that speaks well of her talent, it also highlights the Storm’s current offensive deficiency. If a rookie has to carry too much of the scoring burden right away, there are going to be rough stretches, empty possessions, and long scoring droughts.

Golden State is better equipped for this exact kind of game. The Valkyries should be able to execute cleaner possessions, avoid the worst mistakes, and pressure Seattle into uncomfortable offensive sequences. The Storm will improve over time, but until we see that improvement, they are going to be a regular fade candidate.

The total is low enough to support some offensive improvement on both sides, especially with early-season pace and defensive mistakes still in play.

Golden State gets it done at home.

One Star: Over 154.5
Two Stars: Golden State -4.5