Golden State Valkyries Kaitlyn Chen (2) defends against the Dallas Wings Paige Bueckers (5) at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri July 25, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO– Despite losing their star player Kayla Thornton for the season, the Golden State Valkyries (11-12) sprinkled salt on the Dallas Wings (7-18) 86-76, while simultaneously ending their 3-game losing streak’

Earlier Friday morning, the shocking news came out that leading scorer and recent All-Star game (Indianapolis) participant, Kayla Thornton would miss the rest of the inaugural season for the fledgling Valkyries, with a  lower leg injury.  It put a figurative fog over the City by the Bay, where it is already known and nicknamed “Fog City.”  This depressing information came in the midst of a three-game losing streak and the midway point of the season.

The Valkyries came out with a determined will to win the WNBA Battle inside Chace Center.  Tiffany Hayes hit two 3-pointers to open the contest; before you knew it, the wounded team was up 6-0 on their opponents from the Lone Star State.  Unfortunately for the home team, the guests were not sympathetic or impressed by that initial push.  The rest of the quarter, the Wings went on a 21-4 run to take over quadrant number one, 21-10.

Golden State opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, getting close to a tie or taking over the lead.  Dallas was able to hold off the expansion team, and maintain a six-point lead at recess, 36-30.  The only player on either squad to eclipse 10+ points, was Wings’ veteran star guard Arike Ogunbowale (11).  Surprisingly, high profile rookie Paige Bueckers only produced 5 points and 4 assists; however, there was a whole other second half of game time left in the contest.

In the second half, despite the Wings leading by as many as 12 points, the Valkyries made a dramatic comeback in the third quarter.  They outscored them by nine points, and actually took the lead back with less than a minute left in the period.  With 3/4 of the regulation time played, the Valkyries clutched a 3-point lead, 63-60.  Bueckers was still below double-figures, although her team was still within reach.

The final quarter would have the Valkyries extend their advantage to as much as 10 points, while Bueckers exemplified why she is the team’s leading scorer.  She more than doubled her points production in the fourth quarter alone.  Unfortunately for the Wings, that was not enough at the end of 40 minutes of action.  Golden State won by their largest gap of ten points, 86-76, and gave the city, region and league, a bit of a reprieve from the devastating report earlier in the day.

Five Valkyries scored at least 10 points.  The aforementioned Tiffany Hayes led the way with 17, while Janelle Salaun chipped in 16, Kaitlyn Chen (14), Temi Fagbenie (11) and Cecilia Zandalasini added ten.

Dallas presented four players with double Digits.  Beuckers (17), Ogunbowale (16), Aziaha James (13), and Stanford legend Haley Jones put up ten points in front of family and friends.

The Valkyries will next be in action, Sunday, July 27 in the Nutmeg State, to take on the Connecticut Sun, at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT on CBSSN.  The Wings will fly back home to host the Las Vegas Aces, on the same date, at 3 PM CT on ESPN3.