Latest news with #Valkyries
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
How to watch Lynx vs. Valkyries on TV or live stream - 6/1/2025
How to watch Lynx vs. Valkyries on TV or live stream - 6/1/2025 The Minnesota Lynx (6-0) will look to build on a three-game road win streak when they take on the Golden State Valkyries (2-3) on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at Chase Center. The contest airs at 8:30 p.m. ET on FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31. We dig deep into all of the details you need before this contest starts in this article, including how to watch on FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31. Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply) How to watch Lynx vs. Valkyries Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025 Sunday, June 1, 2025 Time: 8:30 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET Location: San Francisco, California San Francisco, California Venue: Chase Center Chase Center TV channel: FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 Live stream: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply) Lynx players to watch Napheesa Collier posts a team-best 26.8 points per contest. She is also averaging 7.8 rebounds and 3 assists, shooting 52.7% from the field (fifth in league) and 43.8% from beyond the arc with 1.4 made 3-pointers per game. Courtney Williams paces her team in assists per contest (6.7), and also posts 14.2 points and 5.2 rebounds. At the other end, she puts up 1 steal and 0.2 blocked shots. Alanna Smith averages 13.6 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists per contest, shooting 59.6% from the field (third in WNBA) and 47.8% from downtown (fourth in league) with 2.2 made 3-pointers per contest (ninth in WNBA). Jessica Shepard paces the Lynx at 7.8 rebounds per game, while also posting 2.7 assists and 9 points. Bridget Carleton is posting 5.5 points, 2.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Valkyries players to watch Veronica Burton is posting a team-high 4.4 assists per contest. And she is contributing 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds, making 31.7% of her shots from the floor and 26.3% from beyond the arc, with 1 trey per game. Kayla Thornton is averaging team highs in points (12.2 per game) and rebounds (6.2). And she is contributing 0.8 assists, making 31.1% of her shots from the field and 15.6% from 3-point range, with 1 treys per contest. Temi Fagbenle gives the Valkyries 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest. She also puts up 1.2 steals and 0.4 blocked shots. Janelle Salaun is the Valkyries' top rebounder (7.8 per game), and she delivers 13.8 points and 1.5 assists. The Valkyries receive 7.4 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game from Carla Leite. Lynx vs. Valkyries stat comparison The Lynx average 84.2 points per game, just 2.6 more points than the 81.6 the Valkyries give up. The Valkyries' 73.8 points per game are only 2.5 fewer points than the 76.3 the Lynx allow to opponents. The Lynx average 34 rebounds a contest, 1.8 fewer rebounds per game than the Valkyries' average. The Lynx make 45.1% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.8 percentage points higher than the Valkyries have allowed to their opponents (42.3%). The Valkyries are shooting 36.8% from the field, 4.8% lower than the 41.6% the Lynx's opponents have shot this season. Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply)
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lynx vs. Valkyries odds, tips and betting trends - 6/1/2025
Lynx vs. Valkyries odds, tips and betting trends - 6/1/2025 The Minnesota Lynx (6-0) aim to extend a three-game road winning streak when visiting the Golden State Valkyries (2-3) on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 8:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota were winners on the road over Phoenix 74-71 last time out, and was led by Kayla McBride (20 PTS, 36.4 FG%, 3-7 from 3PT) and Alanna Smith (19 PTS, 4 BLK, 53.3 FG%, 2-6 from 3PT). Golden State won on the road over New York 77-82 last time out, and were led by Janelle Salaun (18 PTS, 13 REB, 36.8 FG%, 3-8 from 3PT) and Monique Billings (10 PTS, 7 REB, 44.4 FG%). Here's everything you need to get ready for Sunday's WNBA game. Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply) Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries odds and betting lines WNBA odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Spread: Lynx (-9.5) Lynx (-9.5) Over/under: 164.5 164.5 Favorite: Lynx (-450, bet $450 to win $100) Lynx (-450, bet $450 to win $100) Underdog: Valkyries (+350, bet $100 to win $350) Lynx moneyline insights The Lynx have won all six of the games they have been favored on the moneyline this season. Minnesota has played as a moneyline favorite of -450 or shorter in just two games this season and it won both. The Lynx have an implied moneyline win probability of 81.8% in this contest. Minnesota's games have gone over 164.5 points twice this season (over six outings). The average point total in Lynx matchups this year is 161.5, 3.0 fewer points than this game's over/under. Valkyries moneyline insights The Valkyries have entered the game as underdogs five times this season and won twice. Golden State has a record of 1-2 in games where bookmakers have them as underdogs of at least +350 on the moneyline. The sportsbooks' moneyline implies a 22.2% chance of a victory for the Valkyries. Each Valkyries game this season has ended with a combined score under 164.5 points. Golden State's games this season have had an average of 162.9 points, 1.6 fewer points than this game's total. Lynx vs. Valkyries: Live streaming info & game time Game day: Sunday, June 1, 2025 Sunday, June 1, 2025 Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET 8:30 p.m. ET Stadium: Chase Center Chase Center TV channel: FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 FDSN, KPIX+, and KMAX 31 Live stream: Fubo (regional restrictions may apply) Watch this game on Fubo! (regional restrictions may apply)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Can't find a place to watch WNBA? Strapping Sacramento looks to change that
The WNBA regular season is underway, with several games already in the books. Strapping Sacramento, a local gift shop with locations in midtown and Oak Park, will host a free watch party Sunday for the Golden State Valkyries as they take on the Minnesota Lynx. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at Strapping's Ice Blocks site at 1715 R St., Suite 150, behind Philz Coffee. Snacks will be available for purchase, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs due to limited seating. Strapping, owned by Sacramento resident Susan Stewart, has operated for eight years, according Darcy Weinberg, Stewart's partner and Strapping's public relations manager. The couple first tested the idea of a watch party during the Valkyries' inaugural game, an 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16. 'We're definitely fans of women's professional sports, and the Valkyries are a big deal for us in Northern California,' Weinberg said. 'A lot of our customers have asked, 'Can you guys do some watch parties?' Because it's hard to find places in Sacramento that will put women's pro sports on TV. Unfortunately, that's still the case.' Both Stewart and Weinberg are lifelong athletes — Stewart a former professional golfer, and Weinberg a rower. 'That's where the love for sports came from, and for women's sports,' Weinberg said. The Golden State Valkyries are among the WNBA's newest expansion teams, founded in 2023, and play at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Additional WNBA expansion teams in Portland, Oregon, and Toronto are slated to debut in 2026. The Valkyries are owned by Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, and the NBA's Golden State Warriors, who reportedly paid a $50 million expansion fee, according to Yahoo Sports.. As the name suggests, Valkyries are female warriors. Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history, leads the team. The Valkyries also drafted the league's first Asian American player, Kaitlyn Chen of UConn, who was later cut before the regular season began. Key players include Kayla Thornton, Janelle Salaun, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton, Julie Vanloo, and Monique Billings—who scored the franchise's first points. The team currently holds a 2-2 record. They earned their first win May 21, narrowly defeating the Washington Mystics 76-74 in front of a sold-out crowd. Burton led with 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists; Thornton added 18 points. Thornton leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Burton averages 4.3 assists and leads the league in steals with three per game; Thornton follows with 2.8. Sacramento was once home to the Monarchs, one of the WNBA's founding teams in 1997. The team included league legends Ruthie Bolton, Yolanda Griffith, and Ticha Penicheiro. The Monarchs won the 2005 WNBA championship and reached the finals again in 2006 before losing to the Detroit Shock. The team folded in 2009 after the Maloof family ceased operations. Relocation attempts to Oakland failed. Weinberg said community members look to Stewart to create inclusive, welcoming events. 'We are a queer-owned business, so we're very tight with the LGBTQ community,' Weinberg said. 'Susan has been a leader in the community for years. People look to her for stuff like this. So we bought the WNBA League Pass.' The events are open to anyone interested in women's sports or in exploring the space. Strapping's events are family-friendly, Weinberg said. 'Many of our families have kids and want a place where they can bring them and not be at a crazy bar,' she said. 'They want to watch the games without exposing their kids to that kind of environment.' 'We don't want to turn anyone away,' she added. Weinberg said they 'most likely' will host watch parties for every game, although for now, they are planning month by month. The next event is scheduled for June 9. Strapping began as a clothing line designed for women seeking masculine styles, Weinberg said. When that concept didn't gain traction, Stewart shifted to retail, opening a gift store featuring playful items and upscale gifts, such as kitchenware. Strapping has since expanded to include multiple locations — on Broadway in Oak Park, at L and 18th streets in midtown, and at the Ice Blocks location for events. 'We have to charge for certain events,' Weinberg said. 'We're having a comedy night that will be super fun, headlined by Melissa McGillicuddy.' Upcoming events include an ice cream social June 4 at Licked, also owned by Stewart, located at 3400 Broadway; the 'Date My Friend' singles mixer on June 7; and another Valkyries watch party June 9. For more information, visit or follow their social media pages for updates on free and ticketed events.
Global News
a day ago
- Sport
- Global News
Saskatoon Valkyries embrace youth in chase for 5th straight WWCFL championship
Midway through the Western Women's Canadian Football League season, the four-time defending champion Saskatoon Valkyries are hard at work. However, the current roster is more inexperienced, following the departure of several veterans from last year's team. 'After losing a good chunk of our veteran core on offence from last year I think it was kind of a question mark how we were going to fare this season,' said Valkyries linebacker Emmarae Dale. 'We have a very, very strong defence and we've all been playing together for a while.' Despite the new faces on offence, the Valkyries have continued their winning ways with a 2-0 start to their 2025 season. With a much more inexperienced group of teammates, Dale said it's been up to the veterans on the team to help bring the first and second-year players along. Story continues below advertisement 'They don't necessarily have the full ins and outs like we do,' said Dale. 'It for sure makes us have to step up a little bit more and realize we can't take anything for granted, because nothing is given and we have to earn it.' 'It definitely makes us step up.' Coaching distinct eras of Valkyries football over the past decade, Pat Barry has seen players come and go throughout the organization. However, the championship mindset has remained, according to the Saskatoon head coach, and it has been passed down from veterans to rookies, who are now doing the same years later. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'Our leaders bring the new players into the fold,' said Barry. 'They're very welcoming and they get everyone up to playing at a standard. When we can meet that standard, we're pretty tough to beat.' One of those newcomers on the defensive line is Shantel Sabiston, who previously played on the first women's team in Melville before a stint with the WWCFL's Regina Riot. Suiting up against her former team on May 10 in their season opener, the Valkyries were able to beat their biggest rivals at SMF Field by a 17-7 final score. 'It was surreal,' said Sabiston. 'It was [definitely] a little surreal, but it was exciting from playing old teammates to now making new teammates. It's amazing.' Story continues below advertisement Sabiston was among three defensive players to find the end zone for the Valkyries last Sunday for their first road game of the year in Winnipeg, staying undefeated with a 26-2 win over the Manitoba Fearless. 1:58 Riders star DB Milligan Jr. hungry for more after defensive MOP season On a day which Saskatoon's offence wasn't firing on all cylinders, Barry said it was one of the most impressive defensive performances he's seen in his time on the Valkyries sideline. 'It really was a remarkable performance by our defence with three defensive scores,' said Barry. 'I don't think I've ever been part of a team that has done that.' Among the changes to the Valkyries' look this season has been at quarterback, with teenager Julia Smith taking over starting duties from Alex Eyolfson. That hasn't slowed Saskatoon down in the win column as the franchise hasn't lost a game since the 2018 WWCFL championship game where they fell 14-10 to Regina. Story continues below advertisement Since then, the Valkyries have strung together four consecutive undefeated seasons and have stretched their win streak to a mindboggling 35 straight games. Defensive back Lexi Beuker, who registered a pair of interceptions against Manitoba last week, added the team has been able to carry over that continuity no matter who is on the field. 'Having that championship mentality that this is our championship, we're going to try to make it every single year,' said Beuker. 'Knowing that you have so many people that have been there and they've pushed through those hard things, they've been there when the Valkyries had their last loss … all of those brought together help make us one of the top teams.' With just two games left before playoffs, the Valkyries will be aiming to put in their most complete efforts before the post-season arrives. A path which continues on Sunday, visiting their biggest rivals in Regina and a hostile crowd at Leibel Field. 'Even though we're young, I think we're coming together as a team,' said Barry. 'We're finding out who we are. It's something that we want to keep going forward and hopefully push into the playoffs.' The Valkyries and Riot renew their rivalry with a 1 p.m. kickoff from Regina on Sunday.
San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Valkyries mailbag: Readers ask about roster size, hardship contracts and who will stick around
The WNBA and Golden State Valkyries are a new dimension for Bay Area sports fans, so we wanted to offer an open mailbag to give readers the chance to ask anything they wanted after the first few Valkyries games. There were a lot of fun questions, but some stood out as the best opportunities to explain the WNBA's complexities. It's hard to define one style since WNBA teams vary. The WNBA uses a smaller ball and shorter quarters, and player size is one of the most valuable assets a team can have. Unlike the NBA's 3-point focus, the WNBA rewards dominant big players like Jonquel Jones and A'ja Wilson. NBA play relies more on athleticism and a star ballhandler, while the WNBA emphasizes team depth. As Mystics rookie Kiki Iriafen told the Chronicle when Washington played the Valkyries, you can't out-athlete anyone in the WNBA, but 'basketball IQ is how you win games.' The Valkyries are using NBA-style tactics to get bigs shooting 3s, a unique approach that might be due to head coach Natalie Nakase 's past as an NBA coach with the Clippers. After this season, the Valkyries have the rights to only five players from their current roster: Kate Martin (through 2027), Carla Leite (through 2028) and reserved free agents Janelle Salaün, Kyara Linskens and Julie Vanloo, who can't sign elsewhere unless the Valkyries do not sign them to a minimum contract. They also have this year's fifth overall draft pick, Juste Jocyte, who plans to join the team in 2026. The Valkyries own the rights to forward Maria Conde, who intended to enter this season but was sidelined by an Achilles injury in Europe during the offseason. French center Iliana Rupert, set to join this summer, still has two years left on her contract. That potentially puts eight players on the roster for next season. With a strong free-agent class this offseason, the team could look very different by this time next year. Leite and Salaün are two players the Valkyries will likely build around. Jocyte and Conde, given their potential, are seen as critical long-term assets for the team's future. Are the Valkyries still under the salary floor? Any targets from over-the-cap teams that they should be targeting to fix that? More generally, is the WNBA like the NBA, where cap space is its own kind of asset that can yield picks or players? The Valkyries are $106,322 below the $1,261,440 salary floor, meaning they're not meeting the league's minimum spending. Rupert's full-season cap hit of $74,398 will be prorated once she joins the team. If anything, the Valkyries will likely trade veteran players at the trade deadline if they're not in playoff contention. Kayla Thornton or Tiffany Hayes would be great additions for teams missing just a couple of pieces to make a postseason run. The Valkyries might trade veterans like Thornton or Hayes at the deadline if playoffs seem out of reach, as they could help teams close to a postseason. About 80% of the league's players hit free agency this offseason, so few teams over the cap will shed salary. Dallas, Connecticut, New York, Phoenix, Seattle and Washington hold rights to more than five players with cap hits beyond this season, mostly young ones. Contenders may trade expiring 'bad contracts' on guaranteed deals to free cap space; on that front possible players on the move include Las Vegas forward Kierstan Bell ($84,543) and Chicago guard Moriah Jefferson ($145,500). The Chronicle asked Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin about the cap floor before the season. She said, 'I have an understanding of all the deadlines and all the things that need to happen, and we're mindful of how we want to use our cap space.' Early roster cuts are among the most significant controversies in the WNBA annually. The Valkyries experienced one this spring when second-round draft pick Shyanne Sellers was an early training camp cut, to the surprise of many fans. The addition of the Valkyries added 12 roster spots to the league; Portland and Toronto will combine for 24 more next season. Many players believe the 12 spots per team aren't enough. Former Stanford All-American and current Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink said so on her podcast this week. The players' association might fight for roster expansion in next year's collective bargaining agreement negotiations. NBA teams have 15 spots and a developmental league system. The WNBA likely won't create a minor league soon. However, adding more roster spots and allowing practice players would help teams manage injuries better than the current system. Which leads nicely into the next question … WNBA teams can sign a free agent to a 10-day contract if they have 10 or fewer players available for two games in a row, as long as the same players miss both games. For example, forward Cecilia Zandalasini missed the first four games this season, and guard Tiffany Hayes missed two games in a row, one in Los Angeles and one in New York. The Valkyries could have signed someone to a hardship contract if those two players were also out for Thursday's game against the Liberty. These contracts do not count against the salary cap. Players can sign a hardship contract three times before they stay on the roster and begin to affect the cap. When the Valkyries lose Salaün, Zandalasini and potentially Vanloo to EuroBasket in June — which could mean their missing up to seven games — they will likely use this rule. Since they will be without two forwards and a point guard, they will probably sign a forward or wing for that period.
