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San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries become WNBA's winningest expansion team ever after dominating Sky
CHICAGO – For all the history made in this inaugural Golden State Valkyries season, count Friday night's milestone as its most remarkable yet. With a 90-59 blowout over the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena, the Valkyries notched their 18th victory, passing the 1998 Detroit Shock for most wins by a WNBA expansion team. The 31-point victory was their largest of the season, and their 51.9% shooting percentage from 3-point range surpassed the season-high they set in Washington two nights before. With its first four-game winning streak, Golden State (18-15) edged above Indiana for sixth place, taking a half-game lead after the Fever fell to the Washington Mystics on Friday. It was another 3-point jamboree for the Valkyries, who made 27 shots and all but 13 were from behind the arc. The Valkyries went 22-for-25 from the free-throw line. Cecilia Zandalasini tallied a career-high 20 points, matching her total from two nights prior. Janelle Salaün finished with 15 points and had three 3-pointers in the first quarter alone. Iliana Rupert added 14 points on 4-for-4 3-point shooting off the bench. The Valkyries went 7-for-10 from 3-point range in the first quarter, carrying over from their previous season-best 3-point shooting night in Washington on Wednesday. Golden State led by as much as 12 in the first half but held on 42-40 heading into the half. The Valkyries quickly expanded their lead to 20 after taking 13 free throws in the third quarter alone. They finished the frame on a 25-5 run. Chicago (8-25) scored just 19 points in the second half. The Valkyries held the Sky to 28 paint points, a key in shutting down the post-heavy team. Chicago scored 52 points in the paint in its lone win of the 11-game post-All-Star break free-fall. In the Valkyries' narrow Aug. 1 victory at Chicago, the Sky nearly came back on their interior scoring. Golden State returns to Chase Center on Sunday against the Atlanta Dream to begin a two-game homestand and the final quarter of the season.
Yahoo
07-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘Exhausted' Valkyries get back to .500 after nailbiter win vs. Mystics
The post 'Exhausted' Valkyries get back to .500 after nailbiter win vs. Mystics appeared first on ClutchPoints. Somehow, someway, in their fourth game in seven days, Golden State Valkyries found a way to win on the road for the second game in a row. The Valkyries won an ugly 68-67 game against the Washington Mystics to get back to a .500 record on the season. And more importantly, they moved back into the eighth seed in the WNBA playoff picture and are a step closer to securing a crucial tiebreaker over the Mystics. Golden State only scored six points in the fourth quarter, relying heavily on its defense to hang onto a 7-point lead heading into the final period. But Janelle Salaün came up clutch for the Valkyries once again. The French forward scored with what would be the game-winning layup with 1:00 left in the fourth. Golden State wouldn't score another basket, but neither did Washington, chaining together stop after stop down the stretch. With Washington possessing the ball with 2.0 left in regulation, the Mystics called Brittney Sykes's number for a potential game-winning scenario. Sykes got into the heart of the Valkryies' defense, but Iliana Rupert contested her floater just enough for Golden State to hang on for their second one-possession win in a row. After the game, head coach Natalie Nakase talked about relying on her defense in the clutch and watching Sykes's missed potential game-winner. 'Again we've talked about being top in defense and being one of the toughest teams. I think that just showed it,' Nakase said, referring to the final stop the Valkyries got to secure the win. 'Those last couple of minutes– it showed our toughness [and] back to the resiliency of what we had last game. And then, just overall, just gritty. Sometimes it's not pretty, but being on the road and not everything going our way, we still stayed connected. And I thought we fought our asses off till the very last second.' Kate Martin's microwave scoring Valkyries' Kate Martin was one of the big reasons why Golden State had the luxury of relying on its defense late when the offense stagnated. Martin finished with a team-high 14 points alongside 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Martin helped the Valkyries build a 13-point lead as soon as she checked in midway through the first quarter. Golden State went on a 15-2 run as soon as Martin stepped on the floor, thanks to her shooting and dribble penetration. Since the WNBA All-Star break, Martin's minutes have fluctuated wildly with little rhyme or reason. But her play and steady hand were much needed versus the Mystics, especially with Tiffany Hayes exiting mid-game with a minor injury. Nakase opted to play Martin with the starting five to close the game. After the win, Martin talked about how the team stuck together down the stretch. 'I think we have a great bench with great energy,' Martin said when asked about how the team handles adversity in these kinds of games. 'If we're not scoring, we make sure to hold them as much as possible. We talk about reslianc,e but obviously there's some things that we can work on. We shouldn't be giving up a 12-point lead. But on the road, sticking together and still coming out with a win like that is huge. Something to be proud of.' The Valkyries fighting through fatigue and injury The win in Washington is the Valkyries' second in a row after the trap game letdown versus the league-worst Connecticut Sun to open the road trip. Especially considering the injury and fatigue factor. All-Star Kayla Thornton is out for the season. Monique Billings is sidelined with an ankle injury. Cecilia Zandalasini was out in the front end of this rare back-to-back. And by the end of this road trip, the Valkyries will have played six games in 10 days. And according to Nakase, fatigue is a big reason why the Valkyries have allowed teams like the Mystics to get back in the game after they've built a lead. 'Because we're exhausted,' Nakase answered when asked about the fourth quarter slips. 'I think if we would have played another two or three minutes, I'm hoping we would pull it off, but I think we exhausted ourselves to exactly 4 minutes. I'm just proud we finished. I mean, yeah we scored six [fourth quarter points] they only scored 12 so that's huge for us.' In a similar vein, Iliana Rupert, who got the starting nod for the first time this season, echoed Nakase's sentiment. 'We can be proud of ourselves; that we were able to step up,' Rupert answered when asked for her takeaway from the past two wins. 'A big strength of our team is that threat can come from everybody. We've been showing that the last couple of games. And even though we lost a couple of players, we stick together.' Still, there's little rest for the weary, no matter the resilience they demonstrate. The WNBA waits for no team, the Valkyries included. They face the Chicago Sky on the back end of this back-to-back before heading to Las Vegas for another Aces battle. But Nakase, it's an opportunity to demonstrate their resiliency. 'It goes back to our word. Our word on this trip is going to be resilient. We had nine [players] tonight, so I call our nine strong. As we continue to go into Chicago, hopefully, we get some more healthy bodies and finish this out.' Related: Valkyries celebrate Tiffany Hayes' '10,000' WNBA milestone Related: WNBA security called after unexpected object interrupts Dream-Valkyries
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Valkyries' Rookie Janelle Salaün hits major WNBA milestone vs. Liberty
The post Valkyries' Rookie Janelle Salaün hits major WNBA milestone vs. Liberty appeared first on ClutchPoints. While the Golden State Valkyries came up short against the defending champion New York Liberty, Janelle Salaün played one of the best games in her young WNBA career so far. Advertisement The rookie from France collected her first WNBA double-double, leading the Valkyries with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Averaging 13.8 points and 7.8 rebounds through four games this season, Salaün is emerging as one of the top rookies in the W. However, after the game, Salaün was more concerned about the 82-77 loss to the Liberty than her individual performance. 'We were a little bit satisfied by the way we fought. That was way better than the first game,' Salaün said when asked about the team's morale after the tight loss. 'We can see we're building, we're getting better, but [like I said] previously, it's tough. It's still a loss. We're all competitive people, and we're not going to be satisfied after that.' The Valkyries played much better after New York blew them out 95-67 early this week. After the offense was tough to come by in the first, Golden State bounced back with nine players scoring a made basket. But it wasn't enough as the Liberty's dynamic duo of Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu scored 27 and 24 points, respectively. Advertisement In the same press conference, she chimed in while Salaün was being hard on herself for her performance in the first Liberty loss. 'I want to give a shout-out to this one,' Billings said, smiling at Salaün. 'Being a rookie, it's not easy in this league. And she's just come in and really shined. And so, I'm really proud of you, don't be hard on yourself. You're killing.' Monique Billings, alongside Salaün, had a strong performance for the Valkyries. After missing the last two games, she muscled her way to 10 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Salaün returned the compliments back to Billings. 'You're killing too. That was her first game back,' Salaün said, turning to the reporters. 'Did you see what she did? She was jumping out there. Flying. Big shout out to her, it's not easy in this league.' Advertisement The schedule won't make it any easier on Salaün, Billings, and the Valkyries moving forward. They return home for a Commissioner's Cup matchup with the Minnesota Lynx. They'll have to find an answer for early MVP favorite Napheesa Collier, if she's available. She's averaging a league high 26.8 points per game as well as 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 steals. It's a challenge Salaün is well aware of. 'We're gonna get back to work and we have more games to come,' Salaün said. 'Minnesota, it's going to be tough also.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Valkyries must survive after EuroBasket absences
The post How Valkyries must survive after EuroBasket absences appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 FIBA EuroBasket tournament quickly approaching means question marks for the Golden State Valkyries, the newest addition to the WNBA. Advertisement Starters Janelle Salaün (France) and Temi Fagbenle (Great Britain) headline the international players likely headed for EuroBasket, as well as key role players Julie Vanloo (Belgium) and Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy). While only Salaün and Vanloo have officially made statements regarding their intention to play for their national teams, Fagbenle is listed as the team captain for Great Britain, and Zandalasini is listed on Italy's official roster. As of June 5th, all 12 players are with the team in Phoenix for the Valkyries game with the Mercury, sources tell ClutchPoints. The team has yet to confirm when exactly the potential EuroBasket players will depart from the team, as that is still an ongoing discussion. That spells the first big question for the Valkyries: How many games will they miss? The simple answer: somewhere between 6-to-10 games. But projecting precisely when Golden State's international players return is a little more complicated. Per the WNBA CBA's current prioritization rules, players committed to their national teams can leave no earlier than two weeks before the event begins. Additionally, they must return within 48 hours after their teams finish play according to Article XIV, Section 9(d) of the CBA. Advertisement With that in mind, EuroBasket spans from June 18th to June 29th, with the group stage ending June 21st- 22nd. That makes June 23-24 the earliest date they can return and July 1st the latest. The Valkyries play seven games between now and the end of the Group Stage and another three during the Knockout stage. As a result, when these four players return depends on how far their national teams get into the tournament. How does that affect Valkyries? Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Losing four players for three weeks would not be good for any team, but it's especially difficult for this Valkyries team. Golden State has been very publicly vocal about the fact that this team lacks on-court reps together because they are an expansion team in its first season. It's hard to imagine that losing four players less than 10 games into the season will make their on-the-fly chemistry-building process any easier. Advertisement From an X's and O's standpoint, the Valkyries will lose a lot of frontcourt depth. With Salaün and Fagbenle gone, Golden State is down its starting power forward and center without a clear pathway to replicating their strengths. The spacing and playmaking both bigs provide have been invaluable to head coach Natalie Nakase's emphasis on tempo and shooting. And in that same vein, Vanloo and Zandalasini have been Nakase's change-up pitch off the bench when the team needs some juice and energy. But looking glass half full, the leave of absence creates an opportunity for the players who are staying. One of the underlying storylines with the Valkyries so far is their rotational log jam. With 12 players collected through an expansion draft, the Valkyries don't have any superstars. However, they still have a bunch of role players all capable of seeing the floor, which is a good and a bad problem. It makes the Valkyries a very versatile team, which allows Nakase to take a matchup-oriented approach at the expense of rotational consistency. That leads to players like Kate Martin and Carla Leite occasionally catching DNPs even though they do log big minutes in certain games. The absence of these international players frees up minutes for the remaining Valkyries to cement themselves in the rotation by the time they return. Potential roster moves for the Valkyries Luckily, Golden State's other international players, Leite (France) and Kyara Linskens (Belgium), have reportedly not committed to their respective national teams, which leaves the Valkyries with eight rostered players. That allows them to sign two players to emergency hardship contracts to get back to 10 available players per the WNBA's team-building rules. That leaves first-time general manager Ohemaa Nyanin with some potentially pivotal roster decisions. Advertisement Backcourt-wise, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton, Leite, and Martin should be enough. That leaves the Valkyries with needs in the frontcourt. Nakase is bound to trust Stephanie Talbot, Monique Billings, and Linskens on that front, with some potential small-ball Kayla Thornton lineups. But none of those players are consistent 3-point shooters, and size remains an issue despite Linskens' 6-7 stature. Among the familiar names to look out for are training camp participants Laeticia Amihere, Chloe Bibby, and Elissa Cunane. There's no official reporting on their current whereabouts, but they'd make seamless fits because they are familiar with Nakase's system. It's unlikely fan-favorite Kaitlyn Chen will rejoin the team due to her recent commitment to the 3XBA league, based around 3-on-3 basketball. That leaves one more huge question for the Valkyries: What does this team look like when everyone returns? It is difficult to project what the Valkyries look like in a month. While other WNBA teams have waived players who committed to EuroBasket, it's unlikely Golden State does the same because of how crucial all four departures are in their lineup. But a rotational shakeup is not out of the realm if players like Leite and Martin showcase their value. In any case, EuroBasket adds some roadblocks for a Valkyries team that is currently 2-4. How they answer that challenge depends on how the remaining players rally. Related: Valkyries veteran guard gets crucial injury update for Mercury clash
Axios
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Bay Area sports: Valkyries find their cadence, Giants pitching success
The Golden State Valkyries aren't doing so hot, but that doesn't mean a clearer picture of the team's identity hasn't emerged. The latest: The Valks are 2-4, losing three straight after playing the two teams who were in the WNBA Finals last year — the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx. Rookie forward Janelle Salaün is proving a consistent three-point scorer, while forward Kayla Thornton is tied for the league lead, averaging 2.3 steals per game. What they're saying: "It is very clear what the identity of Golden State is," Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeves said Sunday after the Lynx beat the Valkyries 86-55. "They shoot threes, they play defense and protect the paint. And they out-effort people with the effort at every position, with everybody that comes into the game." What to watch: Kate Martin scored a career high of 14 points on Sunday but is still struggling to get her footing. Fun fact: Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski is a fierce Valkyries fan, making courtside appearances at home games in lavender pants. The bottom line:"I'm trying to get them to get the mindset of, let's just get 1% better every single day, just be in control of what we can control," Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase told ESPN. Here are some other notable happenings in San Francisco sports: Giants' pitching leads The Giants head into June with a major league-best 2.64 ERA despite now going 14 straight games without scoring more than four runs. Strong performances by pitchers Robbie Ray, Kyle Harrison and Hayden Birdsong helped elevate the team to a 4-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Sunday. They need to figure out their offense stat as they begin a seven-game home stretch Monday with four against the San Diego Padres and three against the Atlanta Braves. 49ers' offseason without their heavyweights Ahead of training camp, Jauan Jennings is the uncontested No. 1 wide receiver on the team. The other player who's been put in the spotlight is running back Christian McCaffrey, whose lack of speed in offseason activity has drawn concern. All eyes are on the expected dates of return for Brandon Aiyuk (torn ACL and MCL), Ricky Pearsall (hamstring injury), Ji'Ayir Brown (ankle procedure) and Malik Mustapha (ACL injury). Bay FC goes for the goals Bay FC currently sits at No. 11 out of the NWSL's 15 teams. Their aggressive possession-based offensive strategy, while often successful, has left them weaker on defense, sometimes leading to late-game goals. Racheal Kundananji, who was called up to Zambia's national team for matches from May 26 through June 3, remains a critical player on the field with her ability to draw defenders and steal passes.
