LF Endesa Finals: Khaalia Hillsman Powers Valencia to Game 1 Win in
Khaalia Hillsman Powers Valencia to Game 1 Win in LF Endesa Finals Photo Credit: Valencia Basketball
Valencia BC Women’s made a statement in Game 1 of the LF Endesa Finals, defeating Casademont Zaragoza féminin 81-73 on the road on May 14, 2026. In a best-of-3 series where every possession matters, Valencia controlled the contest on both ends of the floor and now holds a 1-0 series lead heading into Sunday’s Game 2 at the Roig Arena.
Hillsman’s Inside Dominance Sets the Tone
The standout performer of the night was Khaalia Hillsman, the 29-year-old American center. Standing at 1.96m, Hillsman has been Valencia’s interior anchor since joining the club in February 2026, and she delivered exactly the kind of performance that made her signing worthwhile. Before arriving in Valencia, she had averaged 17.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2 assists, and a 22 PIR per game with Sichuan in the Chinese league — numbers that translated seamlessly to the Spanish stage.
Casademont Zaragoza féminin 73 - 81 Valencia BC féminin · Liga Femenina Endesa · 14/05/2026Game PTS REB AST Casademont Zaragoza féminin Mariona Ortiz 2 7 8 Merritt Hempe 18 4 1 Nadia Fingall 10 5 0 Veronika Vorackova 4 3 1 Laia Flores 4 3 3 Helena Oma 13 3 0 Nerea Hermosa 2 1 0 Aminata Gueye 2 2 0 Stephanie Mawuli 2 2 1 Ornella Bankole 16 5 2 Valencia BC féminin Hind Ben Abdelkader 0 0 0 Khaalia Hillsman 20 2 0 Yvonne Anderson 7 4 3 Raquel Carrera 7 4 3 Elena Buenavida 19 4 3 Kendra Chery 0 0 0 Maria Perez 0 2 0 Queralt Casas 0 0 0 Leticia Romero 10 1 1 Awa Fam 2 4 4 Leonie Fiebich 16 2 0 Cristina Ouviña 0 0 2
Her ability to impose herself in the paint gave Valencia a consistent source of offense and a physical presence that Zaragoza struggled to contain throughout the game. As the team’s primary inside power, Hillsman set the tone early and never let Zaragoza find a comfortable rhythm in the paint.
A Complete Team Effort in a Crucial Road Win
Hillsman was far from alone in this victory. Elena Buenavida and Leo Fiebich also delivered strong performances, contributing on both ends of the court and helping Valencia maintain control through the game’s most competitive stretches.
The fourth quarter proved particularly telling. Rather than let Zaragoza claw back into the contest, Valencia showed resilience and composure to close out the win and, crucially, secure home-court advantage for the remainder of the series. Winning on the road in a Finals opener is a significant psychological and tactical achievement in a short series format.
LET'S GOOOOOOO @khaalia00 🥵 pic.twitter.com/dTCRSrxJV7
— Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) May 14, 2026
Valencia Eyes a Historic Fourth Straight Title
The broader context adds weight to this result. Valencia Basket Women are chasing a fourth consecutive LF Endesa championship — a feat that would cement their status as the dominant force in Spanish women’s basketball. Every game in a best-of-3 series carries enormous pressure, and taking Game 1 away from home removes much of that pressure heading into Sunday.
Game 2 takes place at the Roig Arena, where Valencia will have the backing of their home crowd. A win there would seal the title. Zaragoza, now facing elimination, will need a complete reset to force a decisive Game 3.
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