From Unprotected to Savior: Valkyries’ New Hero Stuns Atlanta

After years of limited roles in Minnesota, Cecilia Zandalasini delivers a breakout performance — scoring 18 points and hitting the game-winner to lift Golden State over the Dream.

Cecilia Zandalasini’s WNBA journey has been a slow burn, but in Golden State, she’s catching fire.

After stints with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017, 2018, and 2024 where she saw limited minutes and mostly came off the bench, Zandalasini has emerged as a key contributor for the expansion Golden State Valkyries. In just 11 games, she's already showcased growth that few expected, averaging career-highs across the board: 9.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals in 21.8 minutes per game, all while shooting 44.2% from the field and 41.3% from deep.

But numbers alone can’t capture the moment that solidified her impact.

In a 77–75 win over the Atlanta Dream, Zandalasini hit the game-winner, capping off a clutch performance where she scored 18 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, had 2 assists, and shot 63% from the floor and 60% from three. It was the kind of poised, decisive bucket you expect from a veteran and proof that her expanded role in Golden State isn’t just about minutes, but trust.

Her usage rate has remained steady at just under 19%, but her efficiency has soared. In Minnesota, she hovered around 4–5 points per game in limited action. Now, she's not only producing more, she’s doing it with confidence and consistency. Her Player Efficiency Rating (PER) has jumped to 11.9 and she’s already racked up 0.5 Win Shares in just 10 games.

Zandalasini isn’t just back, she’s better. Zandalasini is just one example of how Golden State built a roster of overlooked talent repurposed into impact players.