San Jose State Spartans pre game report: Spartans seek crucial conference win in a Reno showdown

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Junior running back Viliami Teu runs it in for a touchdown against UTEP on Oct. 17 (Photo courtesy of SJSU athletics)

By Lucas Quick

RENO NV–Conference play continues to heat up for the San Jose State football team (4-3, 2-1 MW) as it hits the road to face the University of Nevada, Reno (2-4, 1-2) on Saturday.

Another change of scenery is underway for the Spartans’ offense, with freshman quarterback Daniel Rolovich taking over as the starting quarterback. The decision was made prior to kickoff against the University of Texas at El Paso.

The rushing attack has been the bright spot for the Spartans throughout the season so far but could have a new look for the rest of the year. Redshirt senior running back Jabari Bates missed last week due to injury, leaving redshirt junior running back Viliami Teu to be the starter.

Last week, Teu finished with 20 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns. His performance gives the opportunity to see a more split backfield between him and Bates moving forward.

SJSU offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann explained the trust Teu has established with the coaching staff, giving him a chance for a more extended role in the future.

“He’s [Teu] more than capable, and you look at it,” Stutzmann said. “We have two, maybe three starters in the running back position.”

With Bates being 14th in the nation in rushing attempts, Teu could help ease his workload.

It could be another game where the rushing game will be relied on heavily. The Wolf Pack defense runs a scheme that’s known to stop a passing game similar to the Spartans’. With Rolovich still settling into his new role, it’s important for SJSU to establish the run, as winning the time of possession battle can be crucial in this matchup.

The SJSU defense has continued to consistently be one of the better units in the Mountain West, especially the defensive line. Its 11-sack performance last week marked one of the most in a game in program history and also puts them at 27 sacks through the season, the second most in the country.

Winning the line of scrimmage battle will be important, but limiting the amount of time the Wolfpack offense has possession will be a key catalyst for a victory. Defensive coordinator Bojay Filimoeatu’s identity on defense has been bend, not break.

“It’s just focusing on the little details of each play,” junior linebacker Nas Danielson said. “We get the offense on third down, and we just have to get off that field.”

Nevada also is dealing with a quarterback carousel. Through its first six games of the season, the Wolfpack have started three different quarterbacks. Sophomore quarterback Carter Jones has been dealing with an arm injury, and fifth-year quarterback A.J. Bianco injured his ankle last week against North Dakota State.

Both players’ availability is currently uncertain, with senior quarterback Luke Duncan next in line.

Junior wide receiver Cooper Hoch, who missed last week’s game, is questionable for Saturday. If healthy, Hoch and freshman wide receiver Carson Clark will look to continue their strong success this season. Clark looks to build off his first career 100-yard receiving game.

This is a high-stakes matchup for both teams. The Spartans currently sit in fifth place in conference standings, while the Wolf Pack sit a game behind them in seventh place. With four teams separated by just 1.5 games, this week’s outcome can play a major role in the rest of both teams’ seasons.

“It’s definitely a huge game for us and some of our goals for the whole season, and we have to win it,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “It’s a must-win for both of us.”

The Spartans will look to earn their first road win against the Wolfpack since 2000 at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Notebook; World Series Memories 1990

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Todd Benzinger a former San Francisco Giants and outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds who passed away on Wed Oct 21, 2026 (Todd Benzinger facebook)

From My Notebook: World Series Memories. 1990

By Amaury Pi-González

The 1990 World Series was a sweep by an inferior Cincinnati Reds team over the Oakland A’s; In game four, Reds outfielder Todd Benzinger, who had just passed away at 63, made the final out. This four-game series stunned the Oakland A’s and their fans, many of whom traveled to Cincinnati.

The A’s had a chance to win three consecutive World Series in 88, 89, and 90. In the end, they won the Earthquake Series against the Giants in San Francisco in 1989. The A’s were also a much better team than the LA Dodgers in 1988, but Dodgers’ pitcher Orel Hershiser dominated in that series, giving the Dodgers the crown, and he was the MVP.

The 1990 World Series particularly brings back memories, as the A’s team hotel in Cincinnati was sold out; the team secured a Holiday Inn about 25 minutes away across the Ohio River in Kentucky, as yours truly and my wife Gail, and other A’s personnel stayed there.

This 1990 World Series was the typical upset. The Oakland A’s were a much better team than the Reds, but everything went right for Cincinnati and the other way for the A’s. That’s baseball.

In conclusion: The A’s were a dominant team back then and missed the chance to win three World Series in a row, 88, 89, 90. That would have been the second time in A’s history to accomplish such a feat, as they also won in 72,73,74. Only the New York Yankees can claim so much success in World Series history.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

NHL podcast Len Shapiro: Oilers just get by Canes in shootout in one of the best games of the year; Will Flyers Knuble be a factor in the offense; plus more news

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Edmonton Oilers Zack Hyman (18), Connor McDavid (97), and Ryan Nugent Hopkins (right) celebrate Nugent Hopkins goal in the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Thu Oct 22, 2026 (Canadian Press via AP)

NHL podcast Len Shapiro:

1. The exciting Carolina Hurricane and Edmonton Oilers Len tell us what happened?

2. Cole Knuble helped the Philadelphia Flyers defeat the Buffalo Sabres for their third consecutive win. Could Knuble become an important offensive contributor for Philadelphia as the season progresses?

3. Matthew Schaefer has recorded seven assists in his first five home games. Did the young defenseman extend his home point streak against the Los Angeles Kings, and did Kings defenseman Drew Doughty try to slow him down?

4. After Nikita Kucherov tied a Lightning franchise record in a victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, can he maintain his scoring pace and strengthen Tampa Bay’s chances of competing for the Stanley Cup?

5. Macklin Celebrini scored twice, including the overtime winner, as San Jose rallied to beat the Montreal Canadiens Tuesday and won a four goal game against the Ottawa Senators in a 6-2 win for their first regulation game. Thursday night. Can Celebrini lead the Sharks to another strong performance and help establish them as legitimate playoff contenders?

Len Shapiro NHL podcast at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sharks Defeat Senators 6-2 in Regulation, Score Two Shorthanded Goals

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Ottawa Senators Nikolas Matinpalo (33) looks to block the shot of the San Jose Sharks Collin Graf (51) during the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa on Thu Oct 22, 2026 (Canadian Press via AP)

By Mary Walsh

OTTAWA– The San Jose Sharks defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-2 Thursday. Nolan Allan, Tyler Toffoli, Collin Graf, Jacob Trouba, Zack Ostapchuk and Ivar Stenberg, scored for San Jose. Yaroslav Askarov made 41 saves for the win. Tim Stützle and Jordan Spence scored for Ottawa. Samuel Ersson made 22 saves in the 6-2 loss. This was the Sharks’ first regulation win of the season and their first win in Ottawa since 2021.

The team scored two short-handed goals in the game. After the game, Collin Graf talked this aggressive penalty-killing: “Especially up ice, we’ve got a lot of fast guys out there, guys that have good sticks and can get up there so we’d might as well play to our strengths a little bit.”

The game saw the Sharks on their heels frequently, especially in the third period. The burden then fell to their goaltender Yaroslav Askarov to keep them in the game. Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky said: “We were under siege for the majority of that game. He made some big saves at big times.”

Tim Stützle gave Ottawa a lead at 6:16 of the first period. Drake Batherson made a cross-ice pass as Stützle skated to the net. Stützle caught the pass near the face-off dot and shot the puck by Askarov on the blocker side. Assists went to Batherson and Warren Foegele.

Nolan Allan tied the game at 11:04. Allan caught the puck along the boards and passed it up to Dmitry Orlov on the blue line. Orlov sent it back in as if to Igor Chernyshov but it went by him to Allan, who was on his way to the net. His snap shot went by Samuel Ersson on the glove side.

The shots were 11-8 San Jose in the first. There was only one penalty called in the first and it was to the Senators. The Sharks penalty kill allowed no shots.

The second period was very prolific for the Sharks. Tyler Toffoli started the scoring glut at 9:13 with a power play goal. After a back and forth with Kiefer Sherwood, Toffoli took his shot from just below the blue line and scored on the glove side. Assists went to Sherwood and Jacob Trouba.

Less than three minutes later, Collin Graf scored a short-handed goal with a diving shot. Graf broke the puck out, then made a drop-pass to Ty Dellandrea. Dellandrea sent it to the net for Graf. Assists went to Dellandrea and Sam Dickinson.

Less than two minutes after that, Trouba scored to make it 4-1. Darnell Nurse sent the puck to the corner where Graf tracked it down and centered it for Trouba’s snap shot.

The shots for the period were 18-11 Senators. The Sharks took two penalties to the Senators’ one. The Sharks penalty kill allowed six shots and scored one goal. Their power play had just two shots before they scored.

Jordan Spence got one back for the Senators at 6:24 of the third period. In a four-on-two rush, Fabian Zetterlund carried the puck in and then passed it to Spence for a wrist shot up the middle. Assists went to Zetterlund and Nikolas Matinpalo.

With Macklin Celebrini in the box for tripping Carter Yakenchuk, the Senators pulled their goaltender for a six-on-four power play. Instead, Zack Ostapchuk scored into an empty net to make it 5-2. Barclay Goodrow got the assist.

Ivar Stenberg scored a second empty-net goal at 19:43. Assists went to Kiefer Sherwood and Michael Misa.

The shots in the third period were 17-6 Senators.

Late in the first period, Igor Chernyshov blockee a shot and left the game. The Sharks were also playing without Alexander Wennberg for the second straight game due to injury. He is described as week-to-week.

The Sharks next play on Saturday at 4:00 PM PT in Boston against the Bruins.

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings try to regroup after opening night loss/ Sac hosts Trail Blazers Friday

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Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis (11) is defended by the Los Angeles Clippers forward Isaiah Jackson in the first half at Intuit Dome Arena in Inglewood on Thu Oct 22, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Jeremiah Salmonson:

1. Can Zach LaVine lead the Sacramento Kings offensively against Portland, and will his scoring ability help Sacramento get an early-season victory over the Trail Blazers?

2. Will Domantas Sabonis control the boards and dominate inside against Portland’s frontcourt, particularly if the Kings need second-chance points to stay competitive?

3. Can Keegan Murray make a difference from beyond the three-point line while also helping Sacramento defend Portland’s versatile forwards?

4. Will Darius Acuff Jr provide the Kings with a scoring spark off the bench, and can his playmaking help Sacramento maintain offensive momentum against Portland?

5. Can De’Andre Hunter make an impact on both ends of the floor, especially defensively against Portland’s talented perimeter players, and help the Kings secure a home win?

Jeremiah Salmonson does the Sacramento Kings podcasts Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez: Sharks get ready for tough Senators on Thursday Night Hockey in Canada

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San Jose Sharks Tyler Toffoli (73) celebrates his goal over the Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) with teammates Macklin Celebrini (71) and Kiefer Sherwood (44) during the third period at the Belle Centre in Montreal on Thu Oct 15, 2026 (Canadian Press via AP photo)

San Jose Sharks podcast Lincoln Juarez:

1. Can Macklin Celebrini continue his outstanding offensive play against the Senators after recording eight points in his previous five games, and will he lead the Sharks to another important road victory?

2. Will Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli provide the scoring support San Jose needs to challenge Ottawa’s defense and goaltending?

3. Can Yaroslav Askarov deliver a strong performance in goal against Ottawa’s dangerous attack, particularly with Tim Stützle leading the Senators offensively?

4. Will Michael Misa and Ivar Stenberg make a difference offensively and help the Sharks generate secondary scoring chances against the Senators

5. Can defensemen Dmitry Orlov, Jacob Trouba and Darnell Nurse contain Ottawa’s forwards, limit quality scoring opportunities and help San Jose earn two valuable points on the road?

Join Lincoln Juarez for the San Jose Sharks podcasts Fridays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Struggle on Both Ends of the Floor in 121-96 Season-Opening Loss to Clippers

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Darius Acuff Jr. #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on before the game against the LA Clippers on October 21, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

LOS ANGELES–The Sacramento Kings opened the 2026-27 season on Wednesday night at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood as they took on the Clippers.

The Kings were coming off a forgettable 22-60 year last season that saw them go through long losing stretches. The Kings were the victims of a number of injuries last season, and they would look to have a better year with even a little bit more luck in the health department. The Kings sent a starting lineup of De’Andre Hunter, Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Darius Acuff Jr. to the floor to open up the season.

The Clippers had their way with the Kings on opening night as they defeated Sacramento 121-96.

In the first quarter, the Kings’ perimeter defense struggled mightily against the Clippers. The Clippers shot 70% from behind the arc as they tormented the Kings for 41 points in the opening quarter. On the offensive side, the Kings managed to put up 29 points as Zach LaVine scored eight in the opening quarter to give the Kings a spark.

In the second quarter, it was more of the same from LaVine as he put up another solid quarter, scoring 10 points to keep the Kings in it. The Kings managed to outscore the Clippers 25-20 in the second to cut into the Clippers’ first-quarter lead and go into halftime trailing 61-54. The Kings’ defense stepped up in the second quarter while the offense managed to keep pace. Zach LaVine finished the first half with 18 points, and Domantas Sabonis had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.

In the third quarter, things began to spiral again for the Kings as the second unit struggled to score. The Kings fell further behind as they were outscored by the Clippers 32-16 in the third en route to a 93-70 deficit heading into the final quarter of the game. Darius Acuff Jr. struggled in the first three quarters as he went 3-for-21 with eight points in his NBA debut. The Kings’ scattered defense and inconsistent offense needed to be cleaned up in a hurry to try and mount a comeback in the final quarter of the game.

In the fourth quarter, the Kings weren’t able to mount any such comeback. The fourth was more competitive, but it proved meaningless as the game was already mostly decided heading into it. Doug Christie emptied his bench and got the likes of Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, Daeqwon Plowden and company some extended run late in the game. The Clippers outscored the Kings 28-26 as they defeated them 121-96 in the first game of the season.

Zach LaVine led the Kings in the defeat with 28 points on 19 shots. Domantas Sabonis added a 14-point, 18-rebound and eight-assist double-double in his first game of the season.

Doug Christie spoke to the media after the game about the slow start the team got off to on Wednesday in the loss.

“Got to be able to keep people in front of you. They were knocking down shots at a high clip, but it comes from the pride of defensive intensity and keeping the ball in front of you. We cut it to five, 56-61, and just not enough. Sometimes we’re just letting our offense affect our defense, and it just can’t happen.”

As for the positives, Zach LaVine had an impressive showing on Wednesday to start the season.

“Yeah, it feels good. It’s part of my job. I’ve been doing this for a long time. Hopefully I can help and relieve some pressure, but, you guys know, that’s what I do. I felt good, and obviously I wish we could have carried that over into the third quarter.”

As for Kings rookie Darius Acuff Jr., Kings head coach Doug Christie isn’t worried about his shooting struggles in his debut as he went 5-for-24.

“We’ll go back and look at the film, but he’s young, learning when to shoot, when to pass, time and score, all those different things. He’s one that I don’t worry about. He’ll be fine. He takes this absolutely personally, so he’ll be in the gym, he’ll do his thing. I’m not worried about him. Plus, he wants to win more than anything. So when you show him what it takes to win, and how to digest it and how to go about it, he’s going to do that.”

The Kings will go back to the drawing board as they prepare for their home opener on Friday night against the Portland Trail Blazers at 7 p.m. PDT. The Blazers beat the Suns by 41 points on Wednesday and are poised with confidence as they come to Sacramento.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

Sacramento Kings podcast Bridget Mulcahy: Kings suffer playing the imbalanced game to Clippers 121-96

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Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine(8) drives on Los Angeles guard Darius Garland (left) at Intuit Dome in Inglewood on Wed Oct 21, 2026 (AP News photo)

Sacramento Kings podcast Bridget Mulcahy:

#1 Bridget, talk about Wednesday night’s opener at Intuit Dome home of the Los Angeles Clippers who trounced the Sacramento Kings 121-96.

#2 First quarter the Kings just couldn’t get any offense going getting outscored by the Clippers 41-29.

#3 The Kings defense showed up in the second quarter outscoring the Clippers 25-20. The Clips took a first half lead 61-54.

#4 The Kings offense in the third quarter only could come up with 16 points and that was a factor in losing by 25 points in the end.

#5 Zach LaVine led the Kings in scoring with 28 points but it too much of a load to carry as the Kings go down losing their first game of the regular season.

#6 The Kings host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at Golden 1 Center. How important is it they get that first win in the home opener?

Bridget Mulcahy does the Sacramento Kings podcasts each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.

NFL podcast Jessica Kwong: What Chiefs need to do to get back into the Super Bowl; Success of Buffalo Bills and Allen; plus more news

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and Kenneth Walker III (9) celebrate a touchdown scored on a rushing play in the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Sun Oct 18, 2026 (AP News photo)

NFL podcast Jessica Kwong:

#1 What do the Kansas City Chiefs need to improve most to get quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the team back into Super Bowl contention?

#2 How important is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen’s performance to the Bills’ chances of winning the AFC East and making a deep playoff run?

#3 Can Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Eagles’ offense bouce back after their loss to the AFC East and making a deep playoff run?

#4 What does the San Francisco 49ers’ win over the Washington Commanders tell us about Brock Purdy and San Francisco playoff potential?

#5 What must Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys change to compete with the top NFC teams such as the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles?

Jessica Kwong does the NFL podcast every other Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

WNBA Finals: Dream Light Up Valkyries With Angel Reese Leading Atlanta To A 97-71 Win In Game Three

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Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) reacts after scoring during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

By Barbara Mason

Wednesday the Golden State Valkyries took on the Atlanta Dream in game three of the WNBA finals only to be defeated 97-71. The Dream now take a 2-1 series lead at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta. The Valkyries had to deal with a sold out energetic loud arena. This was the Dream’s first home game in the finals in 13 years and fans were more than ready to support their team.

The opening quarter was a close one with the Dream taking the lead after the first ten minutes of play 23-15. Golden State outscored the Dream in the second quarter 25-23 however Atlanta continued to lead 46-40 going into the half.

Golden State was able to tie up the game early in the third quarter 48 points apiece but the Dream came roaring back taking a 64-55 lead with under three minutes left. When it was all looking so good for the Valkyries, the Dream turned this game completely around taking a 71-57 leading going into the final quarter. Atlanta continued to extend their lead in the fourth quarter leading 77-60 after only three minutes of play in the final quarter.

GAME RECAP

The Valkyries took the court in the first quarter expecting a riotous crowd and that’s just what they got . The sold out arena was rocking from the start as the Dream were looking to take the lead in the series. The Valkyries did not lead once in the first quarter. The Dream took the lead for most of the opening quarter and going into the second quarter Golden State was trailing 23-15.

Golden State began to amp up in the second quarter. The Dream did take as much as a twelve point lead in the first half but the Valkyries fought back cutting the lead and getting as close as four points but the Dream punched back every time the Valkyries threatened. When the second quarter came to an end the Dream had a 46-40 lead.

Golden State came into the third quarter with a different mindset tying up this game at 48 points apiece two minutes into the second half. Just when Golden State had momentum on their side, the Dream came roaring back taking a 59-53 lead with under four minutes left in the third.

Atlanta refused to back down in this game pushing back every time the Valkyries threatened. The Dream were shooting at 50%, the Valkyries 39% and turnovers were hurting Golden State committing 14 while the Dream had nine. Golden State conceded 20 points on their turnovers through three quarters. As the clock ran out on the third quarter the Dream had a 71-57 lead.

The Dream had taken over the game heading into the fourth quarter and Golden State needed to reverse the momentum in this game. The Dream had continued to get stronger offensively and defensively with each quarter especially the third quarter.

They took a lot of confidence going into the fourth quarter and it would be up to the Valkyries to disrupt their momentum. Atlanta continued to push their lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter leading 80-65. Golden State was in a lot of trouble. Their turnovers continued to mount and they began to take low percentage shots. The final was 97-71 and it had been a dream game for Atlanta. They now lead the series 2-1.

GAME RECAP

Janele Salaun had the first half high points with 11 shooting four for five from the field including three 3-pointers. In this game she was a major offensive spark off the bench. Tiffany Hayes also brought a lot of scoring energy adding ten points on five for eight shooting giving the Valkyries another offensive option. Going into the second half of the game, the Valkyries needed to slow down Angle Reese but they just weren’t able to succeed on that score.

Angel Reese was on a roll and there wasn’t much Golden State could do about it. She had a double-double again in game three, her third of the series. She finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. She was a force in this game as she was in game two. The high for the Valkyries was Gabby Williams with 15 points and Veronica Burton was really shut-down scoring only three points.

So breaking down this game what went so wrong for the Valkyries. Again the turnovers continued to plague Golden State finishing with 17. Atlanta again had the ability to force turnovers as in game two and they sure made Golden State paid for them.

The bottom line is that Angel Reese controlled the paint. Besides Reese, Rhyne Howard scored 16 points and Naz Hillmon finished with 15.

Golden State just could not sustain its offense or defense. The Valkyries did have stretches when they stayed close but they just couldn’t stop the Atlanta scoring onslaught and the runs that the Dream continued to go on throughout the game. Their defensive struggles and inconsistent offense allowed the margin to grow and grow.

The Valkyries were competitive for parts of the game, but Atlanta was more physical inside, they got contributions from several players, and were much better at turning momentum into a large lead. The third quarter was the turning point and there was no stopping the Dream in game three.

Game four will not get underway until this coming Saturday October 24 with tipoff scheduled for 10:00 AM and can be viewed on NBC. The Valkyries will be looking to tie up the series in this game.