I Went Back to the WNBA… This Time Was VERY Different | Riley’s Vlog
Riley Gaines and Louis Barker share their recent experience at a WNBA game featuring the Indiana Fever. They discuss standout performances by Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, noting how the atmosphere this time was quite different from Riley’s earlier WNBA visit in Minneapolis. Riley also touches on the ongoing discussions around Simone Biles, Sophie Cunningham, and Michael Buckley, addressing the importance of these conversations in relation to women’s sports. She mentions her desire to reach out to Simone, emphasizes why Sophie Cunningham’s opinion is significant, and reflects on how the WNBA navigates these cultural debates. Additionally, Riley and Louis discuss traveling with an 11-month-old, their excitement in seeing Brittney Griner, and the ability of sports to bridge political divides. They also hint that Friday’s show will include an Ask Me Anything segment. New episodes of The Riley Gaines Show air every Tuesday and Friday at 10 a.m. ET.
If you haven’t been following the WNBA Playoffs, you’re really missing out. Honestly, if basketball is your thing, this is the highlight right now. The series, though short, has been thrilling. Just yesterday, the Las Vegas Aces edged out the Indiana Fever in Game 3, while the Dream and Liberty went ahead and swept their respective series, eliminating the top regular-season team in the process. It’s been pure chaos. Tonight, we have the other top team, the Valkyries, facing a challenge as the Wings look to pull off an upset.
The Dallas Wings have built their team around star talent. They’ve got some of the brightest young stars, including Paige Bueckers, who is experiencing her first playoff games, and Azzi Fudd, despite being sidelined for most of the season due to injury. This is precisely what they envisioned when they secured the #1 overall pick for two consecutive years. But right now, it’s not really Bueckers or Fudd making waves in this series.
Instead, Arike Ogunbowale has been the crucial player extending this series. If you haven’t seen her play, she reminds me of players like Jamal Crawford or Lou Williams, but she’s more than that. Ogunbowale is a starter who can take over a game. In Game 2, she put up an impressive 45 points in 42 minutes, demonstrating remarkable efficiency with 52% shooting overall, 63% from three-point range, and nearly 90% from the free-throw line.
The Golden State Valkyries, on the other hand, emphasize depth and balance. However, during the playoffs, that can have its downsides. In basketball, it’s evident that having star players is crucial for success. Just being a deep team doesn’t guarantee you’ll be the best in high-stakes situations. We’ve seen this pattern repeatedly: you need a well-rounded squad to avoid fatigue, and role players need to step up, but ultimately, one standout player is often essential when clutch moments come.
Gabby Williams of the Valkyries deserves a shoutout for her impressive performances in this series. Game 1 saw her contribute 20 points in 27 minutes during a resounding victory over Dallas. In Game 2, despite the loss, she scored 36 points in 37 minutes. She’s been active in other aspects too, consistently facilitating and gathering rebounds, and with four teammates averaging over 10 points, she’s receiving solid support. The real question tonight is whether Williams can take on the role of the primary scorer they need, especially facing Bueckers and Ogunbowale from Dallas.
Playing at home could very well be an advantage for the Valkyries, especially since they’ve had a strong home record of 17 wins and 5 losses this season, while Dallas struggled a bit, finishing 11-11 on the road. I expect Bueckers to get more involved in scoring tonight, but will that alone be sufficient? Golden State understands the importance of avoiding a collapse—they know their defense can clinch games. Personally, I’m leaning towards the under in this matchup, but I’ll take the Valkyries to lead by at least 4.5 points in the first half, as I believe the home crowd will energize them right from the start.
