Kaitlyn Chen's fourth quarter got Golden State the 2-seed

Kaitlyn Chen scored 14 of her 18 points in the fourth quarter Thursday night in Los Angeles, and the Golden State Valkyries stole a 76–75 win that locked up the No. 2 seed.

The Sparks led 69–57 with 4:42 left and did not make another field goal until the last second. Chen scored through the quarter — a layup, a three, a three-point play — and Golden State closed on a 17–4 run.

Gabby Williams scored eight in the last 90 seconds. She hit a long three with 1:30 left, stole the ball at the other end, and laid it in. Another three with 20.4 seconds put the Valkyries up 73–72.

After Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts took a technical, Kayla Thornton made that free throw and two more, and Golden State led 76–72. Rae Burrell hit a three at the buzzer. It finished 76–75.

Chen went 8-for-12 in 21 minutes. Veronica Burton had 17. Williams finished with 14 in 20.

Nneka Ogwumike, in the last game of a 15-year career, had 17 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists. The Sparks are done at 16–28.

Golden State hosts seventh-seeded Dallas on Sunday at Chase Center in Game 1 of a best-of-three. The Valkyries took all three from the Wings this season and went 17–5 at home.

Last year they were the 8-seed and Minnesota swept them. Natalie Nakase told The San Francisco Standard in Portland on Tuesday that this one does not feel the same. "In our second year we've learned a lot from our mistakes last year. That was possibly overpracticing — we were injured a lot and it wasn't just at the end."

Chen is 24, from San Marino, the first player of Taiwanese descent drafted into the WNBA. Golden State took her in the third round in 2025, waived her, and brought her back. She spent last spring at UConn with Paige Bueckers, who comes into Chase as Dallas's star on Sunday.