Valencia Women survived a ferocious second-half rally from Zaragoza to secure an 81-73 victory in the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto on May 15, 2026, extending their winning streak and tightening their grip on the playoff race.

Match Overview

In a contest that swung dramatically between defensive slugfest and free-flowing offense, Valencia built a commanding first-half lead only to watch Zaragoza claw back within two points in the final quarter. However, Valencia’s composure from the free-throw line and decisive late stops sealed the eight-point win at a packed Príncipe Felipe pavilion.

How the Game Unfolded

The visitors set the tone early, using aggressive full-court pressure to force six Zaragoza turnovers in the opening period. By halftime, Valencia had opened a 44-30 advantage, fueled by sharp shooting from beyond the arc and excellent transition play.

Zaragoza Women, led by their veteran forward line, came out of the locker room with renewed energy. A 14-3 run midway through the third quarter cut the deficit to single digits, and when home guard Lidia Martínez drained a three-pointer with 6:22 remaining, the score sat at 68-66 in favor of Valencia.

However, Valencia responded with a crucial 9-2 spurt over the next three minutes, anchored by center Ana Torres, who scored six points and grabbed three rebounds in that stretch. Zaragoza could not close the gap further, as Valencia converted 8-of-10 free throws in the final two minutes to ice the game.

Standout Performers

• Ana Torres (Valencia): 24 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks. Dominated the paint on both ends and was the difference-maker in crunch time.
• Lidia Martínez (Zaragoza): 19 points, 6 assists, 4 steals. Her energy sparked the second-half comeback and kept her team in the fight.
• Sofía López (Valencia): 16 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists. Provided consistent scoring and playmaking from the wing.

Key Stats

• Three-point shooting: Valencia 10/24 (41.7%) vs. Zaragoza 6/19 (31.6%).
• Free throws: Valencia 19/23 (82.6%), Zaragoza 13/18 (72.2%).
• Turnovers: Zaragoza 18, Valencia 10.
• Points in the paint: Valencia 38, Zaragoza 34.

Season Implications

Valencia Women’s victory improves their record to 17-5, solidifying third place in the Liga Femenina de Baloncesto standings. Zaragoza falls to 14-8 but remains in contention for a top-five finish. The result also gives Valencia a crucial head-to-head sweep over Zaragoza, which could be decisive in tiebreakers for playoff seeding.

Both teams return to action next weekend, with Valencia hosting bottom-table Ensino and Zaragoza traveling to face Perfumerías Avenida.