‘It felt like a playoff game’: Five takeaways from Valkyries’ preseason debut

SAN FRANCISCO — The scoreboard showed an 83-82 loss for the Golden State Valkyries in their preseason debut, yet the vibes inside Chase Center would suggest otherwise. 

Despite falling to the Los Angeles Sparks in their first-ever preseason game, the Valkyries showed promise and left the floor to a standing ovation from the Bay Area crowd. 

“It felt like a playoff game,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “Our players played with so much passion, and as soon as you saw us dive on the floor or give a tough foul or a block a shot...