Tag: WNBA

Golden State Valkyries makes 15 Three Pointers in Win over Atlanta Dream, 77-66

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The Golden State Valkyries bench react after a play against the Atlanta Dream in the second quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – On this last Wednesday evening of June, the Golden State Valkyries returned to Ballhalla for some action, hosting the Atlanta Dream. Atlanta came to the Bay riding a four-game win streak and has also gone 6-2 on the road this season. So Atlanta isn’t fazed when it comes to playing on other teams’ courts, but they haven’t played the Valkyries yet this season and found out why Golden State is dangerous at home. As the Valkyries would make 15 three-pointers in the win over the Atlanta Dream, 77-66.

In their last game, the Golden State Valkyries went on a quick road trip back to Las Vegas, where they faced off and lost to the Aces, 93-72. The Valkyries struggled offensively on the road. In the second quarter of that game, Golden State had only put up a low 13 points. Compared to Las Vegas in that quarter, where they had put up 27 points. So Golden State was ready to make this game a bounce back from last Sunday, and use their home court advantage on Atlanta.

The Valkyries sent out Veronica Burton, Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Kiah Stokes as their starting five for this one. In the last game, Cecilia Zandalasini led the Valkyries with her 12 points and three rebounds. This was also the first time these two teams saw each other for the season, so both of them were looking to take game 1 in this season series.

The Dream sent out Naz Hillmon, Angel Reese, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and Rhyne Howard as their starting five. Atlanta, looking to make this their fifth straight win of the season, will rely on their inside scoring, which has brought it great success. In fact, Atlanta leads the WNBA in inside scoring, averaging 43.6 points in the paint. In Atlanta’s most recent game, Rhyne Howard led the team with her 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from deep and bringing in seven rebounds in the Dream’s 94-87 win over the Toronto Tempo.

Atlanta Dream would get the game going here in Ballhalla from Rhyne Howard’s 12-foot shot. Then the Valkyries responded with a three-point jumper by Kayla Thornton. Halfway through the first, the game is tied, 11-1, but then Valkyries Gabby Williams would knock down a three-pointer to give Golden State the lead, 14-11.

Valkyries shooting would take over the first quarter. Golden State would go 4-of-8 from deep, lifting them to a 22-18 lead. In the Golden State’s last game on Sunday in Las Vegas, the team went a terrible 5-of-30, so already a huge improvement for the Valkyries. This momentum would get carried through the second quarter for the Valkyries.

With 4 minutes left in the first half, Golden State’s lead jumped to double digits over Atlanta by 14 points, 36-22. The Valkyries are just thriving in their home court, as they’re just feeling themselves and making almost all their shots. They’re shooting over 54% in all of their shooting categories so far in this game. At the end of the 1st half, Golden State’s lead over Atlanta was 17-points, 44-27.

Starting the second half, the Valkyries would score first by Veronica Burton attacking the rim for a quick layup. Then, two minutes into the third quarter, the lead jumped to 23 points by Cecilia Zandalasini, knocking down a corner three-pointer, the largest lead of the game. Ballhalla would turn into a splash party, as Golden State would make its 11th three-pointer of the night.

At the end of the third quarter, the score was now 63-40, with the Valkyries heading into the final quarter with full control of the game. So, going into the fourth and final quarter, Atlanta went on a 7-0 scoring run, and this second unit for the Dream got some rhythm going late in the game. That 24-point lead Golden State had cut to a 12-point lead over Atlanta.

A much-needed three-pointer goes in for Golden State as Cecilia Zandalasini would get one to fall. That shot would be their first field goal of the quarter, which took almost seven minutes in the fourth quarter. With three minutes remaining, the lead was 13 points, 69-56. Atlanta would get as close as a ten point lead, but Valkyries Kayla Thornton would hit a crucial three-pointer that ultimately sealed the game for Golden State.

Valkyries Gabby Williams led the team in this win with her 23 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Williams had shot over 56% in all her shooting categories this game. Along with help from Kayla Thornton’s 17 points on 5-of-10 from three pointers, and bringing in five rebounds. Although going into the fourth quarter, the Valkyries couldn’t get a shot to go in until almost halfway in, but showed Wednesday night how the Valkyries can always bounce back when they play at home.

The Valkyries will have two more games left in June, and both of those games will be played at home for Golden State. So they’ll be looking forward to winning the last two games of the month and walk into July on a three game winning streak. On Friday evening, at 7:00 p.m., the Valkyries will run it back for another game with the Atlanta Dream right back in here at Chase Center. The game will be broadcast live on ION.

Aces Crush Valkyries For The Third Time This Season In Collective Effort 92-73

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Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) shoots over the Las Vegas Aces forward Nalyssa Smith (3) and Aces forward-center Brianna Turner (right) at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Sun Jun 21, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

There was not much the Las Vegas Aces (12-4) could not do in their third meeting with the Golden State Valkyries (10-7) winning the game 92-73. The best three-shooting team in the league were held to only five as the Aces held them to 5 of 30. The Aces starters were on fire winning the game with a truly collective effort. This had to be one of the best games played this season by Las Vegas offensively and defensively.

After the first ten minutes of play the Aces had a 32-17 lead. Las Vegas would extend their lead going into the half leading 49-30. This game went completely sideways in the third quarter and when the dust had settled the Aces had 77-49 lead going into the final quarter.

They were on fire and there was little chance of a Vegas meltdown. The Valkyries were unable to contain the onslaught. This game was pretty much a done deal when the fourth quarter got underway.

Game recap: This was a complete team effort. Jackie Young was the first player to exceed 20 points mid-way through the fourth quarter. She was nine of 12 with five minutes left in the game.

A’Ja Wilson was on the brink of a double double with 19 points and nine rebounds. Chelsea Gray had 15 points, Nalyssa Smith with 14. Jewell Lloyd had 11 points off the bench. There was not much the Aces couldn’t do in this one. They have won eight of their last ten games. At one time in this game the Aces had a 28 point lead and they were 46% from beyond the arc.

Las Vegas stuffed the Valkyries offense big time. Valkyrie Kayla Thornton, Kiah Stokes and Veronica Burton had two points apiece. The two top starters for Golden State were Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini with a combined 22 points. The top three-point shooting team, their calling card if you will, went silent for the entire game going 5 of 30. Every mistake the Valkyries made, the Aces capitalized on, they made them pay big time, every time.

Game notes: The Aces are just coming off a win over the Phoenix Mercury on Wed Jun 17th to clinch a spot in the Commissioners Cup Championship that will be played in New York on June 30th. Sunday the Aces beat the Valkyries and it was their third meeting this season.

On May 31 Las Vegas won their first game with the Valkyries 91-81. In the second game it was a much closer game with the Aces coming out on top 84-79. Sunday the Aces picked up their third win against the Valkyie in Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Tuesday night the Aces will be back in action taking on the New York Liberty in Las Vegas. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

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Minnesota Snaps Golden State’s 4-Game Winning Streak, defeating Valkyries, 81-75

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Minnesota Lynx guard #10 Courtney Williams driving it into the paint on Golden State Valkyrie guard #6 Kaila Charles on June 19th, 2026 at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA. (Photo Credits to Kelley L. Cox – Imagn Images)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – Happy Juneteenth from Ballhalla! on Friday, we celebrate resilience, freedom, and never giving up hope in uncertain times. The Golden State Valkyries had the honor of playing and hosting the Minnesota Lynx, who are currently in first place in the West.

The Valkyries have won their last four games in a row, three of them being at home, and are in third place in the West. So Golden State wanted their fifth straight Dub, but Minnesota had other plans coming to the Bay. As the Lynx would get the win, 81-75, snapping Golden State’s four game winning streak. Minnesota also holds an early 2-0 season series lead over Golden State.

Coming off their most recent win against Dallas on Wednesday, the Golden State Valkyries sent out the same starters as in their last game, with guards Veronica Burton and forwards Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Cecilia Zandalasini, and center Kiah Stokes. Williams led the team in the win with her 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Minnesota’s first five in Ballhalla were guards Olivia Miles, Courtney Williams, forwards Kayla McBride, Nia Coffey, and center Natasha Howard. In the Lynx’s last game, they were on the road in Los Angeles, but still able to get the win, 99-83. Minnesota was led by Olivia Miles, 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. Miles efforts and performance were able to give the Lynx a two game winning streak.

Golden State’s Cecilia Zandalasini got the game going with her 11-foot driving floating shot. Zandalasini would score the first 5-points for Valkyries as she would also make a 26-foot three-point step back jumpshot. She would finish the quarter with eight points alone by herself. With that, Golden State held an early six point lead over Minnesota, 22-16.

Heading into the 2nd quarter, the Lynx’s shooting and offense would improve. They would drop 25 points in the 2nd quarter, compared to their 16 points in the 1st quarter. However, halfway through the 2nd quarter, Golden State’s lead jumped to 9 points, 32-23. Then, right at a timeout, Lynx’s forward Nia Coffey would hit 3 three-pointers in a row to cut the lead to 3-points, 35-32.

In the last minute of the second quarter, Golden State had a 12-point lead over Minnesota, but the Valkyries would commit two shooting fouls on the Lynx, who were shooting three-pointers. So the Lynx would shoot six free throws in the span of five seconds. So at halftime, Golden State’s lead was now just five points over Minnesota, 46-41.

Coming back from halftime, Minnesota was feeling confident that it could pull a comeback in this game. Especially ending the first half with those six free throws, making five of them. So Lynx’s Kayla McBride would get the second half started with a 24-foot three-pointer.

However, Valkyrie Kayla Thornton would respond with a three-pointer of her own. Then the Lynx went on a 6-0 scoring run, and in that run would take the lead, 50-49, with seven minutes remaining in the third. The rest of the quarter, both teams would evenly exchange buckets, but it would be Minnesota holding on to a one point lead at the end of the third, 63-62.

Heading into the final quarter, the Valkyries’ offense would start to hurt them. Golden State dropped just 13 points in the fourth, while Minnesota would drop 18 points. In the final 20 seconds, the Valkyries were down just two points, thanks to Cecilia Zandalasini making a 24-foot three-pointer, 77-75. Although Minnesota would inbound the ball, leaving Golden State to foul immediately. The Valkyries would get one last chance, being down four points, 79-75.

Valkyries would give the ball to Cecilia Zandalasini to make another clutch shot, but Minnesota’s defense would come through on the road. Lynx’s Olivia Miles would block Zandalasini three point shot, and ultimately giving Minnesota their third straight win, with their last two games being on the road. Although the Valkyries fell in this matchup, they were led by Cecilia Zandalasini’s 23 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists.

After being at home for their last three games, the Golden State Valkyries will take a quick road trip to Las Vegas. The Valkyries will face off against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, June 21st, in the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The game will be broadcast live on CBS at 1:00 p.m. In the Aces’ most recent game, they got the win against the Phoenix Mercury. The Aces were led by A’ja Wilson’s 33 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Golden State on 4-Game Winning Streak, defeating Wings, 91-80

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Golden State Valkyries Cecilia Zandalasini drvies to the paint on Dallas Wings Azzi Fudd at Chase Center in San Francisco, CA on June 17th, 2026. (Photo credits to Bob Kupbens Imagn Images)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Valkyries have now won their last four games in a row, as they hosted and defeated the Dallas Wings. This was the Valkyries’ second of three home games this week, and so far, they have won every home game. After having a rough start and going down 12 points, the Valkyries would come back and get the win against the Wings, 91-80. This was also the Valkyries tenth win of the season.

The Valkyries are on a four game winning streak. Golden State sent out Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Veronica Burton. No changes or switches, as these were the same starters as in their last game on Monday evening. Golden State Gabby Williams is averaging 1.8 steals per game, which is sixth best in the WNBA.

The Dallas Wings have won six of their last eighth games coming into this game. So Dallas sent out Paige Bueckers, Arike Ogunbowale, Azzi Fudd, Awak Kuier, and Jessica Shepard, hoping to make the team win seven of their last nine games. In their last game, Arike Ogunbowale led the team with her 22 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and went 5-of-11 from deep.

Dallas started the game solidly, going 5-of-9 on the floor. Wings Awak Kuier got the first bucket of the night on a driving layup. Their shooting got the Wings an early lead halfway through the first quarter. While Golden State saw some early struggles and has already gotten itself five turnovers. The quarter would end with Dallas having a 9-point lead, 26-17.

With Golden State’s 6 turnovers starting the second quarter, the Valkyries were still on attack mode against Dallas. Valkyries Gabby Williams would hit a 23-foot three-pointer to cut the lead to two points, 30-28. In the next possession, Williams would get another shot to fall from deep to give the Valkyries their first lead of the night. Then, Valkyries Kayla Thornton would knock down a three pointer of her own and extend the team’s lead, 35-30.

Golden State went on a 16-0 run, while Dallas would miss their last ten shots in a row. The Valkyries hustle on the rebounds, and getting second chance shots has gotten them back, and overall hold control of the game. By the end of the 2nd quarter, the Valkyries hold their largest lead of the night so far at 11 points, 44-33. The Valkyries would outscore the Wings, 31-9, in the first half.

At the start of the third quarter, Golden State would get themselves another turnover, but their first since the 1st quarter. Then Wings Azzi Fudd gets the first shot of the second half with a midrange jumper shot. With both teams locking in on their perimeter defense, the Valkyries would still find a way to attack and cut out a pass to their shooters. Golden State holds the lead at the end of the 3rd quarter, 64-62

In the final quarter of the game, Dallas would try every effort to cut the lead. The Wings saw the closest to getting back the lead at seven points, 71-64. However, Ballhalla would come alive as the fans’ energy gave the Valkyries energy to close out this game. With just three minutes left, the score was Valkyries lead, 81-76, and the Wings were still trying to take this win on the road.

Valkyries Kaitlin Chen would take over the rest of the game, as she drives to the paint, absorbs the contact, and gets the shot to go in. Both teams were able to see a lot of success in the paint, as they both got over 30 and more points in the paint. As the time winds down, Valkyries Kaila Charles would get the offensive rebound and make the layup to push the lead to nine points, 87-78.

As the game reached the end, it would be the home team, the Valkyries, getting the win and making it their fourth in a row. Five Valkyrie players would finish the game in double-digit scoring, but were led by Gabby Williams. Gabby Williams would finish the game with 22 points, second rebounds, and four assists.

The Golden State Valkyries will play their third and final home game of the week as they host the Minnesota Lynx. The two teams will play each other on Friday at 7 p.m. Minnesota won their first matchup in Minnesota, 87-84, earlier this month on June 4th. The game will be broadcast live on ION.

Valkyries Dominate Sparks on 20-Point Win, 78-58

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Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini #24 guards Los Angeles Sparks’ Kelsey Plum #10 in the first quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – A California clash in “Ballhalla” on Monday night as the Golden State Valkyries hosted the Los Angeles Sparks, as this was the Golden State’s sixth game in the Commissioner’s Cup. The Valkyries and Sparks have gone 3-2 so far in the Cup and are hoping to make it 4-2 in Monday night’s matchup. Unfortunately, only one of them will go 4-2 in the Cup, and that’ll go to Golden State as they defeat Los Angeles, 78-58. The Valkyries also honored and celebrated Asian Heritage Night.

The Valkyries returned from Seattle last Friday after taking on the Storm and securing a road win, 76-72. Coming off the bench, Janelle Salaun would drop and lead the team with her 22 points, seven rebounds, and go 5-of-12 from deep. Her impact and shooting off the bench were important for Golden State, as the whole team made just 3 three-pointers compared to Salaun’s five.

So, trying to keep the momentum going and hoping to make this their third win in a row. Golden State sent out forwards Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Cecilia Zandalasini, center Kiah Stokes, and guard Veronica Burton. Gabby Williams has also been great at shooting the ball from deep, as in her last three games, Williams shot the ball at 40 percent beyond the arc.

The Los Angeles Sparks came into Chase Center with a 5-1 record on the road, and also a three game winning streak as well. So the Sparks sent out Nneka Ogwumike, Erica Wheeler, Kelsey Plum, Ariel Atkins, and Dearica Hamby. This season is also Los Angeles 30th season in the WNBA, and their best start since 4 years ago. Sparks guard Kelsey Plum is averaging 26.6 points per game this season and is leading the league in scoring.

Golden State’s Kiah Stokes got the game going here, in San Francisco, with a corner 23-foot three-pointer to hype up Ballhalla. Los Angeles started the game in the wrong direction; the Sparks would miss their first seven shots in the game. While Golden State would be able to get their offense going inside, they were also able to knock some shots down from deep, going 3-of-5 in the first quarter. Golden State has a 15-point lead in the , first 25-10, and the Sparks would end the last four minutes of the quarter on a scoring drought.

Heading into the second quarter, Golden State didn’t slow down on Los Angeles. The Valkyries would continue to see great success inside and in the paint for their offense. Golden State would finish the first half with 24 points over Los Angeles, 19 points in the paint. The Sparks shooting is also a big reason why Valkyries are all over them. Los Angeles is shooting 1-of-9 from deep, while Golden State only made just three more three-pointers, going 4-of-10. At halftime, the Valkyries held a 19-point lead, 45-26.

Also, Los Angeles Sparks Nneka Ogwumike would make a free throw in the second quarter, but that free throw wasn’t just any ordinary free throw. That shot would put her fourth all-time on the WNBA scoring list and has now recorded 7,500 points and going. Also, Golden State Valkyries Veronica Burton reached her 1,000th career point. The future of the WNBA is here!

At the start of the third quarter, the Valkyries were able to strike first with a quick layup in the paint. However, Los Angeles would have a much better shooting performance in the third quarter. With two minutes left of the third, the Sparks have already made more points than in the first half. They even cut the lead from 24 to 16 points. A big part of that was due to the Sparks going on a 10-0 scoring run, and their defense starting to pick up the pace.

Entering the final quarter, Golden State was holding on to a 14-point lead, 61-47. With Los Angeles trying their last efforts and Golden State trying to hold them off. Both teams would go back and forth on exchanging buckets. At the halfway mark, Golden State’s Gabbi Williams would hit a deep 27-foot three-pointer. Valkyries would push the lead back to 16 points.

With time running out for the Sparks and everything going right for the Valkyries. Golden State would ultimately get the win by 20 points on this California clash against Los Angeles. The Valkyries were led by Gabby Williams, who had herself 16 points, four rebounds, and one steal. She was also helped from the bench, especially Kaila Charles. Charles had 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.

With a quick, one-day rest, the Golden State Valkyries will come back home on Wednesday evening to host the Dallas Wings. This matchup will be the final play of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, but also the two teams’ first time playing against each other this season. So this will be the Valkyries’ first take on Azzi Fudd, who was the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. The game will start at 7 p.m. as Dallas and Golden State are both hoping to continue their winning streaks.

Aces Pull Out All the Stops Beating Lynx 100-97

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Las Vegas center A’ja Wilson (22) is fired up after making a play against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Sat Jun 13, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

This was not a game for the weak of heart. The fourth quarter was about as intense as it could have gotten with the lead bouncing back and forth as the seconds ticked away. This game was not decided until the clock displayed 3.5 seconds.

The Las Vegas Aces (10-3) came away with a 100-97 win against the Minnesota Lynx (10-3) at Michelob ULTRA Arena and it was appropriately Chelsea Gray who closed out the game with a couple of free throws for the win. She finished the game the way she has started it.

This highly anticipated matchup should prove to be a real battle as this game got underway. When the dust had settled on the first ten minutes of play the Aces had a 32-21 lead.

This was exactly the start that Las Vegas wanted to see and the task now remained; could they keep the pressure on the Lynx for the three remaining quarters. Chelsea Gray had picked up right where she had left off in their last game hitting four three’s.

Gray was the perfect opening act and there was not doubt that she would be covered like a blanket in the second quarter. Everything was clicking offensively going forward in this game.

The Lynx were able to outscore the Aces in the second quarter 30-25. At the half the Aces continued to lead 57-51 but their lead had been trimmed significantly. Minnesota put the wraps on Gray in the quarter as expected.

She had scored 12 points in the opening quarter and only 4 in the second. Having the hot hand in any game draws a lot of defensive attention and she was getting plenty. With the likes of A’ja Wilson, Nalyssa Smith, Jackie Young and Chennedy Carter plus trying to put the stops on Gray the Lynx did a great job winning the quarter.

The Aces had hit seven three’s in the first half. With less scoring from Gray, Wilson picked up the slack keeping that lead going into the half. The Lynx’s Natasha Howard had a great first half but on the downside she already had three personal fouls as did rookie Olivia Miles who had also been scoring a lot of points.

None of the Aces were in foul trouble in the first half. The largest lead in the game was a 15 point Ace advantage. The second half was gearing up to be a real battle.

The Aces outscored Minnesota in the third quarter by a single point 21-20 and going into the final quarter Las Vegas had a 78-71 lead. The Lynx had turned this game around and had Las Vegas fighting to keep the lead. Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard were a huge part of this turnaround.

Going into the fourth quarter Young had really begun to heat up which made things so much tougher on Minnesota. With under three minutes left on the clock it was a 2 point game 89-87 in favor of Las Vegas.

This game was going down to the wire and the Aces needed stops and buckets. This was anyone’s game and Minnesota had some crazy momentum going. It would be a wild finish as the Lynx continued to trail the Aces by a basket 91-89.

With 48 seconds left in the game the Lynx had taken their first lead 94-93 since the first quarter. Las Vegas took a brief lead when Jewell Lloyd hit three free throws. The lead bounced back and forth and with 20.5 seconds left on the clock the Aces had a 98-97 lead.

This game would come to an end pretty much the way it had started: with Gray hitting a couple of free throws and the Ace’s had won the game 100-97. Gray and her teammates had pulled out an amazing win.

This was just another wild nail-biter we have seen this season from the Aces. Their tenacity and discipline along with their skill has served them well. Wilson finished the game with a double double, 24 points and ten rebounds.

Gray was amazing hitting 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. She finished with 23 points, 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Young had 16 points and 10 assists. Smith had 15 points and 6 rebounds, Las Vegas had 11 three’s in this game.

The Lynx put up quite a fight in this game and very nearly beat the Ace’s. Losing this game had to have been a terrible disappointment considering the three incredible quarters they played. They completely turned the game after the first quarter and had a very real shot at winning this game. Olivia Miles the Minnesota phenom had the high for the game with 29 points.

Game notes: The Aces right now are tied for first place and have been playing some outstanding basketball. With the win over the Lynx on Saturday the moved into a head to head tie as both team have identical records after the Aces won on Saturday night.

It is still early in the season but the standings are tight with five teams fighting to climb into the top spot that the Aces and Lynx occupy at the moment. Saturday night the Aces moved into the first spot sharing it with Minnesota.

Las Vegas has been steadily improving as we have finished over a quarter of the season. The incomparable A’Ja Wilson reached another milestone nearly a week ago in their game with the Seattle Storm becoming the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 6,000 points doing it in 278 games.

She led her team last Thursday with 32 points in their win over the Portland Fire. Chelsea Gray had 29 points in that game and along with Jackie Young these three ladies are tearing up the court. Nalyssa Smith has also been terrific gobbling up rebounds and scoring double digits.

In Saturday night’s game but there is no doubt they had the fire power and defensive excellence to take care of business. Gray finished with 23 points, Young had 16 points and Smith finished with 15 points.

After this thriller, the Aces will have a day off to catch their breath before heading to Dallas for a matchup with the fifth place Wings Mon Jun 15th. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00PM PDT.

Valkyries Snap Mercury’s 2-Game Road Winning Streak, Golden State defeats Phoenix, 87-81

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Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – After Golden State’s 0-2 road trip in their last couple of games, the Valkyries hosted the Phoenix Mercury Tuesday evening, who came into this game on a two game winning streak. What makes the Phoenix’s two game winning streak more impressive is that those two wins were on the road. So Mercury was feeling confident coming into Ballhalla. However, Golden State thrives on its home-court energy and will take the win, 87-81. This was another sellout for Golden State, making it their 30th sellout in Franchise history, and the team is also now 5-2 at home.

Valkyries are coming back from Las Vegas, where on Saturday they faced off against the Aces but lost 84-79. This loss made the team enter a two game losing streak, and it would now have a 1-2 record in the Commissioner’s Cup. Golden State’s Gabby Williams scored a career-high 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting for the team.

In the team’s second home game for the Commissioner’s Cup, Golden State sent out Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Veronica Burton. Burton, in the last game, had 15 points, as did Kayla Thornton, dropping ten points in the last game. The Valkyries came into this game wanting to shake off those road trip losses and take advantage of the home court energy.

Phoenix Mercury sent out Noemie Brochant, Alyssa Thomas, Natasha Mack, Kahleah Copper, and Monique Akoa Makani as their starters to continue their road games winning streak. In their last game, the Mercury was in Portland shorthanded on players. The team was out with their starters, Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper, due to injuries. However, Mercury would find a way and would be led by DeWanna Bonner, with a season-high 19 points. So with their starters returning, Mercury was ready for gameday in the Bay.

Golden State’s Veronica Burton would get the game going with a 13-foot floater as the Valkyries strike first. Then Phoenix’s Monique Akoa Makani makes a 24-foot running three-point jump shot to respond to Burton’s floater. In fact, Golden State’s first five points were all by Veronica Burton. Burton would end the first quarter with nine points for Golden State. The Valkyries would hold the lead at 22-18.

Halfway through the second quarter, Golden State would turn up the heat on Phoenix and build momentum to take the lead. Burton would continue to get buckets, as she made a 26-foot three-pointer to give Golden State a nine point lead. Then, Valkyries, Gabby Williams would get back-to-back buckets to fall for her, as she extends the lead to 13 points, 40-27. Golden State would have themselves a 27 points in the second quarter alone, compared to Phoenix’s low 14 points in the second.

At halftime, Golden State got itself a 17-point lead. Valkyries were up 49-32, and led by Veronica Burton’s 19 points and three assists. She would also get help from Gabby Williams, who had ten points and two rebounds for the team.

The third quarter was all Phoenix as they were able to turn things around after their bad shooting performance in the second quarter. Mercury would have themselves a 29-point third quarter, putting all their efforts to come back from behind and continue their winning streak. Halfway in the third, Phoenix Monique Akoa Makani would have a season high 14 points and going. From a 17-point lead to just a five point lead, Golden State is hanging on at 66-61 going into the final quarter.

Gabby Williams would get the fourth quarter going with a quick, inside floater for Golden State. Holding a seven point lead, Phoenix’s DeWanna Bonner would hit a 30-foot three-point jumper to cut the lead to four points. Then, after a quick timeout, Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper would make a three-pointer and, cutting the lead to two points, 74-72. Mercury would cut the lead to just one point, 76-75, with three minutes left. However, a big three-pointer from Golden State’s Kayla Thornton with two minutes left would ultimately hold off the Mercury.

Valkyries would secure the win on their home court, 87-81. Golden State’s Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams both would have 25 points in this game. They both would combine for 50 points in the win. Along with Kayla Thornton’s 12 points and four rebounds. The Valkyries lead the league in bench production, which was a big factor in their win as well.

After a quick two day rest coming up for Golden State, they’ll head on to the road to Seattle will they’ll face off against the Storm, who are 3-10 in the season so far. The two teams will play each other on Friday evening at 7 p.m. on ION. This game will be another feature of the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup, as the teams enter the last couple of games of the Cup. The Valkyries are currently holding a 2-2 record in the Cup.

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A’Ja Wilson Reaches 6000 career points as Aces Defeat Storm 101-91

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A’ja Wilson became the fastest player to 6,000 points in Aces vs. Storm win. (Mike Kirschbaum/NBAE via Getty Images

By Rich Perez

Monday evening the Las Vegas Aces (8-3) defeated the Seattle Storm (3-10) 101-91. It was the A’Ja Wilson show. She finished with a double double, 34 points and 12 rebounds. She has won countless awards and tonight in the fourth quarter another accolade for Wilson. She reached and surpassed 6000 career points and she is the fastest athlete to have reached that mark in the WNBA.

Game recap: Monday night the Aces will be looking to hold down that second place spot and even make a move on the first place Lynx. The Storm outscored the Aces in the first ten minutes of play 25-23 but the Aces got going in the second quarter and with under three minutes left in the half Las Vegas had taken a ten point lead 46-26.

A’Ja Wilson had already scored 20 points and the team was protecting the ball well with only five turnovers. Their largest lead of the game had been 11 points. The Storm rallied in the final minutes of the first half cutting the Aces ten point lead to five 46-41. As the clock ran out in the first half the Aces had a 50-43 advantage. They had outscored the Storm 27-18 in the second quarter.

It had been all Wilson in the first two quarters of play. The Aces did have a bit of a slow start in the first quarter but they remained close due to the 12 points scored in the first quarter by Wilson. At the half Wilson had scored 21 points with six rebounds.

She was also two of four from downtown. She was running the show in the first half. Nalyssa Smith chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds. The strong start that the Storm came in with was buried by Las Vegas in the second quarter.

As the third quarter came to an end the Aces had outscored the Storm 22-16 and led 72-59 taking their largest lead of the game. The fourth quarter could be yet another milestone for A’Ja Wilson who needed one more point to reached 6,000 points.With 4:45 left in the game Wilson reached and surpassed 6000 career points.

The Storm outscored the Aces in the fourth quarter 32-29, but were unable to catch Las Vegas. The Aces won this game 101-91.

A’Ja Wilson finished with the game high of 34 points and a double double with 12 rebounds. At the half the team needed more from Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray and that’s just what they got. Young finished with 29 points and Chelsea Gray had 12. Nalyssa Smith also had a solid game coming very close to a double double with 16 points and nine rebounds.

The high for the Storm was Dominique Malonga with 19 points.

Game notes: Monday night the Aces picked up another home win as they beat the Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Aces were coming off a win over the Golden State Valkyries Saturday night 84-79 in a real nail biter that was not decided until the final seconds of the game. Seattle has been struggling losing Saturday night to the Lynx 88-68. Currently the Aces are holding down second place in the Western Conference.

Next up for the Aces will be the Portland Fire this Thursday night at Moda Center. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.

Valkyries Unphased by Fire, & get 1st Win in Commissioner’s Cup, 95-77

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Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries reacts after making a three-point shot over Frieda Buhner #20 of the Portland Fire in the first half during a WNBA Commissioner’s Cup game at Chase Center on June 2, 2026, in San Francisco, California .(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – This Tuesday evening, the WNBA tipped off the Commissioner’s Cup at Ballhalla with the Golden State Valkyries defeating the Portland Fire, 92-23. This was Portland’s first time ever playing here at Chase Center, as they were set to join the WNBA this year as the league’s 15th team. After the Valkyries’ last home game loss to Las Vegas, Golden State bounced back at home and got their first win for the Cup against Portland. Golden State is now 6-3 in its first nine games of the season. Portland Fire drops to 6-5 for the season so far.

The WNBA Commissioner’s Cup is an annual in-season competition that links top competition to community impact is the Commissioner’s Cup, sponsored by Coinbase. From June 1–17, there will be 49 games in the event. A $500,000 prize pool and the Commissioner’s Cup Championship Game will be contested by the team from each conference with the best record in Commissioner’s Cup games. The team with the highest winning percentage in regular-season games through June 17 will host the championship game on Tuesday, June 30.

The Valkyries started guards Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini, forwards Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, and center Kiah Stokes as their five. In Golden State’s last game, they hosted the Las Vegas Aces, but lost, 91-81, just two days ago. They were led by forward Gabby Williams, 20 points, on her 4-of-6 shooting from three pointers. So the Valkyries were determined to make this home game a win and start the Commissioners Cup with a win in the tournament bracket.

Portland went with gaurds Carla Leite (former Valkyrie player), Bridget Carleton, forwards Nyadiew Puoch, Emily Engstler, and center Megan Gustafson as their starting five. Portland, in their last game, hosted and defeated the Indiana Fever, 100-84, just three days ago. Fires center Megan Gustafson led Portland with her 22 points, and went perfect from the floor, 8-of-8 on field goals. Portland is hoping to make this game their second win in a row.

Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton would hit a corner three to start the game off, here, in San Francisco. Then, in the next possession, Portland would respond with their forward Emily Engstler knocking down a 26-foot three-point jumper to get Fire on the board for the night.

However, Valkyrie Kayla Thornton was feeling herself from the start, as she made the first three 3-pointers for Golden State. Thornton would end with 11 points by herself in the first quarter, and give help the Valkyries the lead, 21-20.

At halftime, Golden State had a 20-point lead over Portland, 56-36. The Valkyries’ shooting in the first half is what gave them the control the whole night. Even though Portland was dominated in the paint, Fire had scored 22 of their points in the paint. Golden State was shooting above the 50% almost the entire second quarter. In fact, the Valkyries set a team record, making 12 three-pointers in the first half.

At the start of the third quarter, Fire would go on a quick 4-0 scoring run, and would cut the lead to 14 points. Then Golden State’s Veronica Burton would hit a 24-foot three-pointer to extend the team’s lead. Then, right in the next possession, Valkyrie Kiah Stokes joins the party and knocks down a three-pointer of her own. By the end of the quarter, Golden State had an 18-point lead, 74-56, going into the final quarter.

In the final quarter, Portland would get as close as eight points from the lead. Halfway through the fourth quarter, the score was 75-67. However, Golden State just never let up from their shooting and would knock down multiple three-pointers that led them to a win in Ballhalla. In fact, the Valkyires have set a new single-game franchise record with 18 three-point field goals made.

The Valkyries win this one, due from an explosive second quarter performance. The Valkyries would drop 35 points, just in the second quarter. Their shooting ability really showed off for the home crowd as Golden State starts this month off with a win. Golden State was led in this game by Kayla Thornton’s 19 points, eight rebounds, and her 5-of-10 shooting from deep.

The Golden State Valkyries will head on the road to Minnesota, to face off against the Lynx, who are currently 1st in the West (7-2) at the Target Center. The Minnesota Lynx are being led by Courtney Williams, who averages 17.8 points per game. The tip-off will be at 6:00 p.m., Thursday evening, broadcast on Prime Video.

In the vibrant center of downtown San Francisco, Hotel Nikko offers a serene retreat defined by calm, understated luxury and the thoughtful precision of Japanese-inspired service. Each detail is designed to create a restorative experience where modern comfort and wellness come together effortlessly.

Guests are welcomed into spacious, contemporary rooms that blend clean design with subtle Japanese influences and intuitive, tech-enabled amenities. Throughout the hotel, a sense of tranquility is balanced with engaging, on-site experiences that elevate every stay.

At the top of the hotel, a glass-enclosed indoor pool offers a peaceful escape above the city an inviting space to unwind or, during the summer months, transform into a lively “dive-in” movie experience. Every Friday and Saturday night, families can enjoy classic kids’ films poolside, creating memorable moments in a truly unique setting.

Dining at Hotel Nikko is equally distinctive. ANZU Restaurant is home to San Francisco’s only Japanese breakfast buffet, offering an authentic and refined start to the day. In the evening,

Kanpai Sushi Lounge delivers an experiential dining atmosphere where craftsmanship and flavor meet in a sophisticated setting.

For entertainment, Feinstein’s at the Nikko brings world-class live music and cabaret performances directly to the hotel, offering an intimate and vibrant nightlife experience without ever leaving the property.

Located at 222 Mason Street near Union Square, Hotel Nikko places guests steps away from the city’s premier shopping, dining, and cultural attractions while offering a peaceful sanctuary to return to.

Valkyries get their “Get Back” on Fever, beating them 90-88, Golden State now on 2-Game Winning Streak!

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May 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) dribbles past Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and is defended by center Kiah Stokes (41) in the first quarter at Chase Center. (Photo Credits to David Gonzales-Imagn Images)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – After just six days ago, in Indiana, the Indiana Fever would take the win against the Valkyries in their first matchup against each other of the season. Indiana’s guard Caitlin Clark would drop 22 points on the Valkyrie, as she now saw herself playing against the Valkyries, but this time in “Ballhalla”.

Thursday night was meaningful for Golden State, as they celebrated another sell out, their 28th out of 28 games at Chase Center. That means every game the Valkyries played at home, was a sell out. So it was right the Valkyries showed out for their fans, and they did as they got the win, 90-88. Golden State is now 5-2, through their first seven games of the season.

The Golden State Valkyries went with Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes, Kaila Charles, and Veronica Burton as their starting five for this game. Gabby Williams in the last home game would lead the team with 15 points, on 3-of-5 from three point shooting. Overall, that win was a confidence booster for Golden State as they were preparing for their rematch with Indiana Thursday night.

Indiana hoping to make this their fourth straight win. They sent out Aliyah Boston, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Lexie Hull, and former Valkyrie Monique Billings. With both teams holding a 4-2 record at the moment, this win could be their fifth win of the season through the first seven games. This is the second game held at Chase Center in the week, after on Mondays win for Valkyries, who took down the Connecticut Sun, 97-70.

Golden States Veronica Burton would get the game going, and the home crowd energy as well on a tough and-1 layup she made to get herself a three point play. She would give the Valkyries a quick, 5-2 lead at the start. Burton was just feeling herself and loving the home court energy, as she was knocking down deep three pointers and increasing the lead to seven points, 14-7.

However, the Indiana Fever were quick to reestablish themselves out there, and get back in the game. With her third assist in the second quarter, Indiana Caitlin Clark becomes the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 points and 500+ assists, in just 59 games. So with that, at halftime we would have ourselves a tied game at 44-44 in San Francisco. Caitlin Clark and Veronica Burton both reach double-digit scoring points for their teams.

At the start of the third quarter, Indiana’s Aliyah Boston would get the third quarter going with a quick floater in the paint, and also give the Fever the lead, 46-44. The second half intensity would pick up drastically, after both teams would lock in and do their best to score and get the lead. Golden State Valkyries Veronica Burton impact would be crucial for Golden State’s success. Burton would also have herself a career high in blocks this game (5).

Heading into the final quarter, Indiana would hold on to the lead by just four points. However with eight minutes and 45 seconds left in the game. Valkyries Gabby Williams ties the ball game at 69-69 with a fast drive into the paint for a layup. Then, again, Golden States Veronica Burton would get another tuff and one play and lead her team with 23, and now at 25 points.

16.3 seconds left on the clock, Indiana is down two points, 90-88. Golden State Valkyries are rushing back down the court to play defense as they held their own and stop the Fever. With 1.9 seconds left, they call a jump ball, however Indiana isn’t done as they win the jump ball and get one more chance. Although, they now have 0.6 seconds left, but the Valkyries defense comes up big and stops the Fever from scoring. The Valkyries would take the win on this thrilling, Thursday evening, 90-88.

Golden State would get the next couple of days to rest before their next matchup. They will stay at home and host the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, May 31st, at 12:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock right back here in Chase Center. The Valkyries are hoping to continue their winning streak now and make it to three straight wins on Sunday.