Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese looks to shoot the ball against Golden State Valkyries’ Monique Billings in the third quarter in San Francisco on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (8-7) have a winning record after 15 games of their inaugural season, by scaling the Chicago Sky (4-11), 83-78, on a beautiful Friday Night in the City by the Bay.

The Valkyries got the evening off to a good start on two converted free throws by Kayla Thornton. However, the Sky went on a 5-0 run to take the steam out of the ninth sellout crowd in the friendly confines of the Chase Center. Golden State also had their own 6-0 run, and led by as many as 5 points in the first 10-minute block.

The initial quarter had three lead changes and two ties. A competitive beginning of the contest that continued throughout the game. After the first segment of the W battle, both teams had a player leading the way with 9 points.

Kayla Thornton parlayed that scoring effort into a career high (29) campaign, while Kia Nurse made three bombs from beyond the arc to tally her point-production. The Sky led by two after the whistle, 22-20. The unintentional polarizing Angel Reese managed to get a flagrant foul late in the quarter, but did not ruin the rest of her game.

In the second quarter, Golden State managed to lead by as high as nine points, but it still was a back and forth entanglement. By the time the first half buzzer went off, the Valkyries held a five-point lead, 39-34.

At recess, both teams only had one player in the double-figures plateau. They would be the aforementioned Thornton (15) and Nurse (12), with four 3s to her credit.

In the third quarter, it was more of lead exchange and multiple ties. Golden State went up by five, and Chicago led by three. Reece reached 10 rebounds, but was still in single-digits (5) in her point production. After 75% of the game was over, the Valkyries led by two, 56-54. There were six lead changes and six ties at that stage of the game.

In the final 10-minute time block of regulation, Golden State pushed it to a nine-point advantage, while Chicago got up by four. However, late in the quarter, the Valkyries went on a devastating 12-0 run, which cemented the win. In the interim, Reese added 8 rebounds and 12 points to her total, reaching another of her frequent double-doubles.

After 40 minutes of WNBA play in the San Francisco Bay, the home team won by five, 83-78. The latest expansion team put themselves back in a winning way, by games and percentages.

Golden State presented four players with 10+ points in their eighth victory of their first season. Thornton led the way with 29 points and six rebounds. The other three contributors were. Tiffany Hayes (13), Kate Martin (11) and Kaitlin Chen (10).

Chicago was led by Ariel Atkins with 20 points, Nurse with 17 (5 – 3s) and Reese with her double double of 17 points and 18 rebounds.

The Valkyries are next in action Sunday, June 29, hosting the Seattle Storm at 5:30 PM PT, on KMAX/KPIX+. The Sky head down to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Sparks, on the same date, at 3:00 PM CT and 1:00PM PT on ESPN.