Tag: WNBA

Valkyries reached for the Sky and won, 83-78; moved up above .500

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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.

Aces Fall To Surging Mystics 94-83; Win was third straight for Washington

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Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) takes a shot over the Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) in first half WNBA action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Thu Jun 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez
LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (7-8) lost to the Washington Mystics (8-8) 94-83. The Aces Jackie Young had 13 points in the opening quarter but did not score again in the game. A’Ja Wilson had the game high with 22 points.

On the other hand the Mystics had the hot hand from outside hitting ten shots from beyond the arc. They were unstoppable. Las Vegas went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter but they had dug such a deep hole in the third quarter trailing by 22 points. They have now fallen below .500 again at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday night.

The Mystics took as much as an eight point lead in the first quarter but the Aces battled back tying the game at 22 with under two minutes left in the first ten minutes of play. As the first quarter came to an end the Mystics had a 29-25 lead. The Aces Jackie Young had a terrific start scoring 13 points. She definitely had the hot hand in the opening quarter.

The second quarter saw Washington again take as much as a nine point lead. With five minutes left in the half the Aces cut the Washington lead more than in half trailing 32-36. The Mystics Sika Kone pushed out the Washington lead hitting a three with 4:27 left in the quarter. Every time the Aces challenged, the Mystics answered and at the half Washington had their largest lead of the game 53-44.

The Mystics Sonia Citron had the first half team high with 12 points. She was the only Mystic in double digits. The Aces A’Ja Wilson had 14 points and Young had 13 at the half. Las Vegas would have to contain the Mystic offense in the second half. They already had hit six shots from downtown and the Aces would be looking to shut that down.

The Mystics continued to push their lead out leading 59-44 two minutes into the third quarter. The Aces shooting percentage continued to dip and turnovers continued to hamper Las Vegas. The Aces had conceded 17 points on eight turnovers. With 7:33 left in the quarter Head Coach Becky Hammon called a time out before this game got completely out of hand.

Washington had built a 62-46 lead at 6:47. The Mystics were on fire from beyond the arc hitting 8 already in 2 1/2 quarters. The Mystics success from beyond the arc was the tipping point in this game. With two minutes left in the quarter Washington had built a 22-point lead 79-57. Going into the fourth quarter Washington had a 79-61 lead.

As the final quarter got underway Las Vegas was not finished going on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The Aces got as close as seven points but they could not overcome the outside shooting that the Mystics brought in this game. The Aces had dug too deep of a hole in the third quarter. In an 11 point loss for the Aces and the win in favor of Washington.

This coming Sunday the Aces will head out on the road for another very tough matchup with the third place Phoenix Mercury. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 3:00 PM and can be viewed on NBA TV.

Late Rally Falls Short as Valkyries Drop Thriller to Liberty, 81–78

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New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu is defended by Golden State Valkyrie’s Veronica Burton during the second quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/ San Francisco Chronicle)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.- The opening quarter of the Golden State Valkyries vs. New York Liberty game was hard-fought, with Breanna Stewart and Tiffany Hayes putting up the most impressive performances. With 12 points on 5 of 9 field goals, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, Stewart developed as an aggressive player for New York. Although she didn’t have much help from her teammates in the first stretch, her early rhythm kept the Liberty offensively going. Yet Kennedy Burke, who came off the bench, provided New York with much-needed energy by scoring 8 points on a flawless 3-for-3 shooting effort, including 2 of 2 from deep range

On the other hand, Hayes went 3-of-6 from the field and made 2-of-4 from beyond the arc to match Stewart’s effort with 12 of her own. Her choice of shots and ability to create space during transitions provided the Valkyries with a much-needed attacking lift. Hayes taking it to the rack is how the team’s effort got going. 

However, Hayes wasn’t the only one who had an effect. The defensive tone was set by her and Kayla Thornton, who put constant pressure that made New York appear tough and stopped their rhythm. The Liberty shot just 11 of 23 overall and a poor 4-of-13 from three-point range in the first quarter, as they struggled to keep up with Golden State’s tenacity and pace early in the game.

Even as Breanna Stewart started to establish her dominance, the Valkyries relied on their aggressive defense to break Liberty’s rhythm in the second quarter. Despite their difficulties from beyond the arc, Stewart kept New York within striking distance by scoring nine more points in the quarter, increasing her first-half total to 21 on 8 of 14 shooting.

Golden State responded with tough defense and well-balanced team play. Backcourt pressure from Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes continued to push the Liberty into hurried shots and disrupted plays. Despite only shooting 15 of 37 from the field in the first half, the Valkyries made up for it with hustling plays and hard work on the glass, grabbing 19 rebounds and grabbing crucial second-chance shots.

However, by halftime, the Liberty were only 5 of 18 from three-point range and 18 of 46 from the field. Their interior presence kept them in the game, as they scored 26 of their first-half points in the paint despite their poor outside shooting. Even though their perimeter threats struggled to convert, they were able to effectively crash the lane due to their size and length across the lineup.

The Valkyries had a certain change of mind when they left halftime: defensive energy. In order to add more hustle and intensity to the perimeter, head coach Natalie Nakase started guard Kate Martin, and it paid off right away. With players continuously switching positions, getting hands in passing lanes, and running back in transition, Golden State’s defense was notably more active. Four steals during the quarter were the product of their effort, which created fast-break possibilities and held the Liberty attack.

Laeticia Amihere, Kayla Thornton, and Kate Martin all took advantage of those momentum plays, combining to make several crucial baskets that resulted from transition and second-effort hustling. The Valkyries played with a feeling of urgency that allowed them to momentarily recover control of the game, whether it was diving for loose balls or finishing through contact on the break.

However, New York’s Marine Johannès turned the tide just as Golden State appeared to take the lead. The shooter stunned the crowd by making three straight three-pointers in the third quarter, giving the Liberty a late-quarter lead. Johannès’ quick release and off-ball movement proved too much to contain during that stretch, reminding everyone that occasionally excellent offense wins over outstanding defense, even if the Valkyries’ defense had played strong defense the whole quarter.

With both teams exchanging big shots and changes in momentum, the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth contest. In the last period, Golden State Kate Martin made three critical three-pointers to get the Valkyries within striking distance, continuing her second-half surge. Martin finished with a career-high 21 points, going 4-of-10 from beyond the arc and showing composure in crucial situations after only scoring 7 points in the first three quarters.

Her late actions, however, were unable to lift the Valkyries to a higher level.

Kennedy Burke, who stepped up when it mattered most, responded for New York with a consistent scoring effort. Burke finished with 20 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three, after scoring 11 points early in the game. Her poise and well-timed buckets allowed the Liberty to withstand the Valkyries’ charge. Also, Sabrina Ionescu converted seven free throws in the final two minutes and made a key steal with 26 seconds left, even though she was shut down by Valkyrie’s defense going 1-11 on the floor, and 1-7 shooting threes. Lastly, Breanna Stewart also finished with a double-double, 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Golden State had late-game opportunities, but the 81-78 defeat was sealed by a few missed shots and New York’s dominance of the last possessions. After another tough and competitive performance, the loss puts the Valkyries at 0-3 in the season series against the Liberty.

The Valkyries will look to bounce back quickly as they return to action on Friday night when they host the Chicago Sky at 7 p.m. Still searching for consistency and a breakthrough win in close matchups, Golden State will aim to turn lessons from this hard-fought loss into momentum heading into the weekend.

Aces Crush Connecticut For Second Win In a Row 85-59; Wilson reaches 5000th career point plateau

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The Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) celebrates scoring her 5000th career point against the Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles (left) at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Wed June 25, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–Wednesday night the Las Vegas Aces (7-7) won their second game in a row beating the struggling Connecticut Suns (2-13) 85-59 . A’Ja Wilson reached yet another milestone reaching 5000 career points in the second quarter.

Game recap: Wilson finished with 22 points and Jackie Young chipped in another 20 points. Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd both had double digits. The Aces hit 11 three’s and completely dominated in the second half of play. Despite having 15 turnovers in the game they breezed through this one.

Las Vegas got the perfect start going on a 19-0 run. The first basket the Sun scored was at less than two minutes left in the first quarter. Connecticut went on a 6-0 run to end the first ten minutes of play. The Aces won the opening quarter 21-6.

The Sun had a much improved second quarter outscoring the Aces 23-19 in quite a turnaround. At the half Las Vegas had a 40-29 lead. Connecticut was struggling from beyond the arc not able to hit one in the half. In the second quarter Wilson hit her 5000th career point. There is not a whole lot that Wilson cannot do, she is the epitome of skill and professionalism.

In the third quarter, the Aces had the upper hand in this game controlling the flow of the game. Each team had 9 turnovers but the Aces dominated in the field, beyond the arc, and defensively with 35 rebounds to the Suns 21. After three quarters the Aces had taken their largest lead of the game 68-46 crushing Connecticut.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Sun were looking at a close to impossible task; catching up with Las Vegas. The Aces continued to extend their lead taking a 24-point lead 70-46 in the opening minutes of the final quarter.

Las Vegas had hit 11 shots from downtown while the Sun only had two. Despite the significant lead, the Aces had a frustrating start to the fourth quarter with turnovers and missed shots. They did maintain at least a 20 point lead throughout the quarter and with under four minutes left in the game had a 77-55 lead.

The Las Vegas bench would finish off this game with Kierstan Bell hitting eight points. The final was 85-59 in a really lop-sided game. The Aces had won their second win in a row in a complete rout.

Game notes: After fighting their through the Indiana Fever Sunday, the Aces handled the Sun without much trouble at Michelob ULTRA Arena Wednesday night. The Aces beat the Fever in the fourth quarter of the game after trailing for much of it in the first half. A’Ja Wilson was back in form scoring 24 points in that game; the win breaking a 3-game skid.

Wednesday night they started a winning streak against the Sun picking up their second win in a row. Connecticut had been struggling but Las Vegas took nothing for granted and put out their best effort giving the home crowd another win. The win Wednesday night will put them at .500.

The Aces will not have much time to celebrate this win taking the court Thursday night against the Washington Mystics looking for their third win in a row. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM at Michelob ULTRA .

Aces Put An End To Losing Streak Beating Indiana Fever 89-81

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Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) celebrates a successful play during WNBA game against Indiana Fever on Sunday June 22 2025 in Las Vegas. Kalin Sipes – The Sporting Tribune

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces put an end to their three-game losing streak beating the Indiana Fever 89-81 Sunday. They trailed for three quarters but powered through the fourth quarter. After being shut down in the first half, A’Ja Wilson scored 20 points in the second half and finishing with 24 points. It was an amazing comeback as the Aces begin to chip away at the standings now tied for seventh place. This was the Aces 16th straight win over the Fever.

Game recap: The Aces got an early 6-2 lead but the Fever responded taking as much as a five point lead. The two teams fought hard for the rest of the quarter and after the first ten minutes of play, the Fever had a one-point lead 21-20 in a hotly contested game.

Chelsea Gray hit a buzzer beater for two points to end the quarter. The Fever’s Aliyah Boston had already shot for ten points and the Aces would need to contain her going into the second quarter. A’Ja Wilson had a slow start only hitting a single basket but had three rebounds. The Fever were doing a great job shutting her down. Gray had the high for Las Vegas with five points.

In the early minutes of the second quarter the Fever extended their lead to 26-22. The Aces answered with a Dana Evans shot from downtown to tie up the game 28-28 at 6:19. Caitlin Clark had scored only two points but she had eight assists connecting with Aliyah Boston numerous times.

The Fever were making life pretty miserable for A’Ja Wilson keeping her pretty locked down. Indiana went on a run extending their lead to 37-28 prompting Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon to call a timeout before the game got out of hand.

A’Ja Wilson finally got her second basket of the game but Clark came right back shooting over the defense for her first three of the game and the Fever had taken a 40-30 lead. The Aces were struggling from the floor shooting for only 36% while the Fever were hot shooting at 54%.

Las Vegas continued to struggle on the floor trailing at the half 36-42. They would have a lot of work to do in the second half. They needed to find a way to disrupt the Clark-Boston connection which was a huge part of the Fever’s lead.

The Fever’s Aliyah Boston had the game high at the half with 18 points. The Aces struggles on the floor resulted in not a single player in double digits at halftime. The Fever had held Wilson to 1-12 field goals.

The last time the Fever had beaten the Aces was back in 2019. If the first half was any indication, Las Vegas was going to have to step up big time in the second half. It was not a huge point deficit by any means but they had to find a way to shut down Boston and start hitting those floor shots that they had been missing in the first half.

The Aces continued to trail in the third quarter, struggling from the floor, missing open shots while the Fever’s Aliyah Boston continued to dominate. With 4:09 left in the quarter Boston had hit 22 points.

The Aces continued to trail by six points throughout most of the third quarter. With 2.22 left on the clock, the Aces pulled to within four points but the Fever countered with a two point play and going into the fourth quarter the Fever were holding onto a 61-58 lead.

The final quarter got underway with the Aces pulling to within a single point 60-61. Las Vegas took the lead 63-61 for the first time since the first quarter when Aaliyah Nye hit a three. Nye had 11 points off the bench and Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young had all reached double digits.

With 7:58 left in the game the Aces were clinging to a 65-63 lead and desperately needing stops. Las Vegas got a couple of stops and made good on them pushing their lead out to 69-63 going on a 15-2 run with 6:16 left on the clock.

The Fever gobbled up the Las Vegas lead and with five minutes left in the game it was all tied up at 69. A crucial coaches challenge was won by the Aces and with under two minutes left in the game Las Vegas had a 83-75 lead.

A’Ja Wilson had hit 16 points in the second half making good on her claim at the half that she would “just keep on shooting.” With under a minute Las Vegas had established an 84-79 lead and this game was going down to the wire.

A second challenge in as many minutes was also won by the Aces and Jackie Young hit a couple of free throws giving Las Vegas an 86-81 lead with 40 ticks left on the clock. The final was 89-81.

If a team can stay close and close out the fourth quarter chances are pretty good that they will come away with a win and is exactly what Las Vegas pulled off. They had put a stop to their losing streak, and now had 6-7 season record.

Indiana’s Aliyah Boston had the game high with 26 points and 10 rebounds along with a great showing by Kelsey Mitchell with 20 and Clark finishing with 19 points and 11 assists.

The Aces really bounced back in this game finishing off the Fever in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. After a rough start, A’Ja Wilson finished with 24 points and seven rebounds. Jackie Young had 19 points and also had seven rebounds. Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd had a great finish; Gray with 18 points and Loyd with ten. Aaliyah Nye had 11 points off the bench.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Aces played another home game at Michelob ULTRA Arena taking on the Fever. The Aces came into the game after a loss to the Seattle Storm 90-83 after leading by ten points in the third quarter last Friday. That game was A’Ja Wilson’s first appearance on the court after being out on concussion protocol.

Wilson came back into this game sharp after her first game back last Friday night. Las Vegas faced Caitlan Clark but also the Clark- Aliyah Boston combination a dangerous duo. The Arena was packed with over 18,500 fans on hand for the game with the Ace ending their three game losing streak.

Las Vegas will back on the court at Michelob ULTRA Arena welcoming the Connecticut Sun next Wednesday night. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM and fans can tune in for all the action on NBA TV.

A’Ja Wilson Returns But Aces Fall Short Losing To the Storm 90-83

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Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) in the second half of WNBA action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Jun 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (5-7) welcomed A’Ja Wilson back on the court in a matchup with the Seattle Storm (8-5). The Aces dropped their third straight game this time to the Storm 90-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The Aces came up just short in a real battle. Two missed free throws to end the game sealed the win for the Storm.

Wilson finished with a double double shooting 20 points with 14 rebounds. Jackie Young had a solid game with four rebounds and 22 points. It was just not enough to get past the surging Storm.

Game recap: As the players took the floor rousing applause arose when Wilson took the court. She was back just when the team really needed her. Her return could change the course of the rest of the season.

The Storm came out strong taking as much as a ten-point in the opening quarter but by the end of the first ten minutes of play the Aces had pulled to within two points trailing 23-21. Las Vegas briefly took the lead in the second quarter but Seattle fought back leading for most of the game.

With 38 seconds left in the half, the Aces had taken a 39-36 lead. Las Vegas had a great run in the final 30 seconds of the half taking a 45-38 lead. The Aces had taken control of this game and would need more of the same in the second half.

The Aces picked up where they left off in the second quarter taking a ten point lead two minutes into the third quarter 52-42. Just having Wilson on the floor show-cased the ball control and the flow of the game was slick.

The Aces were hitting the three’s and with only seven turnovers so far in the game they looked like the new and improved Aces. With under three minutes left in the quarter this game got uncomfortably close, the Storm trailing by only three points 61-58.

The Las Vegas lead had evaporated. With 36 seconds left in the third quarter the Storm made a push taking back the lead 64-63. The Aces had some untimely turnovers that seemed to disrupt their rhythm. After three quarters the Storm had taken a one-point lead 67-66.

The fourth quarter was a see-saw affair with the two teams trading leads. As the clock began to wind down Las Vegas had just over three minutes left in the game to overcome the Storm’s 86-81 lead in this game.

Every possession going forward would be critical. The Storm continued to extend their lead and time was not on the Aces side trailing 88-81. This was a photo finish, Las Vegas fighting to the end but coming up just short losing.

Game notes: The Aces took on the Storm in a Friday night matchup at Michelob ULTRA Arena. This season finds the Aces having to contend with something that we never saw coming. So far this season they have a season record below five hundred while last year they finished with a 27-13 record finishing in fourth place in the Western Conference and losing in the Semi-final to the eventual winner, the New York Liberty.

The Aces beat the Storm in the first round of last year’s playoff to advance to the semi-finals. This year they have been really struggling and it has been compounded with the loss of A’Ja Wilson who has been out for two games after suffering a head injury back on June 11 playing against the Los Angeles Sparks missing the entire fourth quarter.

It has not gone well for the Aces since then although they did pull out a victory against the Dallas Wings on June 13th. Wilson’s return date was previously determined to be June 17 but she did not play. Wilson returned on Friday night scoring the second highest points with 20.

She has led the team in almost every statistical category. It has not been a great start to the 2025 season but the good news is that there are more than 30 games left on the schedule and there is plenty of time to turn things around.

The loss set the Aces back six games out of first place the Aces are now in eighth place in the Western Conference. The Aces have a lot of work to do and they could start with capitalizing on second chance points and more ball protection in their next game on Sunday. In their last three games they have averaged 18 turnovers per game and cleaning that up would make all the difference.

Las Vegas will now go back to the drawing board in preparation for their game this coming Sunday with the Indiana Fever. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for12:00 PM and can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+

Valkyries found Remedy for Fever win 88-77; get back on the winning track

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Indiana Fever center Caitlin Clark drives to the basket past the Golden State Valkyrie defense in the second quarter in WNBA action at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Thu Jun 19, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (6-6) fought off the Indiana Fever (6-6) 88-77, in front of another sellout Bay Area crowd.

Although Indiana made the first bucket of the game, Golden State went on a 7-0 run, to take their largest lead in the first half, The Fever had their own big run of 14-0, and led by as many as 10 points.

After the first ten minutes of play, the visitors from the Hoosier State led by nine, 21-12. The first quarter had two lead changes and zero ties. The Valkyries took their first punch, and managed to stay within a reasonable competitive distance.

However, the Fever increased their advantage to as high as 12 before recess. Golden State continued to fight back, and got the deficit below double-digits, 44-36. Caitlin Clark was scoreless until around the 4:00 mark, when she converted a layup. Although she had six assists to her credit.

Aliyah Boston was the only player on both sides to reach the 10+ points plateau, with 15 points and seven rebounds. The Valkyries shot 35% from the field, while the Fever were at a heated 49%, matching their nickname. Neither team shot extraordinarily well from beyond the arc.

In the second half, the Fever posted their largest margin of 13 points, but the Valkyries continued to battle back, outscoring the Fever in consecutive quarters. By the end of the third stanza, Golden State narrowed the margin to four points, 59-54.

In the Final quadrant, the Valkyries managed to overtake the Fever around the 8:00 segment (62-61), at the hands of a Tiffany Hayes bucket. Once they put themselves in front of the Fever, they had to stave them off for nearly 80% of the last quarter.

Despite Indiana’s valiant attempts to regain the lead, Golden State forged the lead up to 11 points. That was also the lead they had at the final horn, 88-77. A raucous crowd was more than excited with the home team’s fight and resilience.

Golden State had five players in double-figures, led by Kayla Thompson (16), Tiffany Hayes (14), Chloe Bibby (12) and Laeticia Amihere with ten points.

Indian produced four players with that scenario. Aliyah Boston topped her team with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell (16), Natosha Howard (13) and Clark nearly had a triple-double with 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

The Valkyries are next in action Sunday, June 22, as they host the Connecticut Sun at 5:30 PM PT, while the Fever head down to Las Vegas to take on the Aces, the same date, but at Noon PT.

Golden State Valkyrie game wrap: Valkyries Weather the Storm, 76-70 inside Chase Center; Golden State wins third straight game

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Even the Golden State Valkyrie bench couldn’t contain themselves in their third straight win over the Seattle Storm at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Sat June 14, 2025 (Golden State Valkyrie X photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (5-5) won their third consecutive game, while ending the Seattle Storm’s (6-5) 3-game streak, 76-70, on a pleasant evening in the City by the Bay.

Golden State has Chase Center in their favor, as they have had sellouts (18,064) in all four of their WNBA home games in their inaugural season.

Seattle actually made the arena an overcast setting, as they got off to a 4-0 start to the game. After that, the Valkyries came back, and both teams had five lead changes and one tie during the initial stanza.

Golden State led by six points, which was their advantage after the quarter ended, 21-15. Although Seattle led by four early, they would never be in front again during the contest.

In the second quarter, the home team expanded their lead to as high as 15. Veteran guard Skylar Diggins hit a three late in the quarter, cutting the deficit to seven, keeping them in the contest. However, the Valkyries went on an 8-0 run, putting them back up to 15. They would keep their margin in double-digits at recess, 44-31.

Midway through the W battle, both team a one player with double-figure scoring. Kayla Thornton had 11 points and 8 rebounds after 20 minutes of gametime. Skylar Diggins topped the Storm with 10 points.

In the second half, the Valkyries led by a whopping 22 points, but had to hold on at the end of the game. Thornton added six more points to her total, and had a double-double (17/10) after three quarters. Two others eclipsed 10+ points, Temi Fagbenle (14) and Carla Leite (12) and helped the cause. Ezi Magbegor chipped in ten points and Diggins 16, at the 3/4 mark of the game. Golden State led 64-50.

In the final portion of the event, Seattle stormed back, cutting the deficit as low as four, less than a minute in regulation time. Seattle committed an offensive foul while attempting to get within 2 on a basket, three on a shot beyond the arc, or a miraculous four-point play.

Neither scenario came to fruition, as an attempted pick and roll was called a foul on the screener. Thornton politely drained two free throws, sealing the highly contested battle, 76-70.

Thornton led the Valkyries with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Fagbenle chipped in 16 points and seven rebounds, and Leite added 14 points. Diggins led the Storm with 21 points, Alysha Clark posted 11 points and Magbegor offered ten points and six Rebounds. Stanford legend Nneka Ogwumike had a great reception by the Bay Area crowd, but had a subpar game with six points, five rebounds and saddled with four fouls.

The Valkyries will next be in action in Dallas, taking on the Wings Tuesday, June 17 at 7:00 PM Central Time 5:00 PM Pacific. The Storm take their cloud down to Southern California, as they take on the Los Angeles Sparks on the same date, at 7:00 PM PT.

Golden State Valkyries podcast Michael Villanueva: Valkyrie Rises Locks In Against Storm; Golden State wins 3rd straight game

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Golden State Valkyries fans lights up Chase Center as the fourth quarter begins. With 18,064 people in the bay, this was the team’s fifth sell-out. (Michael Villanueva of Sports Radio Service is credited with the photo)

On the Golden States Valkyries game podcast Michael Villanueva:

#1 Given how both teams have changed since opening night, what were the most important lessons learned from the Valkyries’ performance against the Storm?

#2 Michael which Golden State player stood out the most in this match up, and is that player beginning to establish herself as a reliable leader for this new squad?

#3 Given Kayla’s double-double, how did the Valkyries’ tempo and control change as a result of her effective rebounding and scoring?

#4 How well did Golden State’s zone coverage strategy work to break Seattle’s rhythm for the majority of the game, and what does it tell about the Valkyries’ coaching changes?

#5 Following an excellent game tonight, the Valkyries will focus on Dallas when they play the Wings on Tuesday, June 17 at 5 p.m. PT. What impact do you think tonight’s momentum will have on that matchup?

Golden State Valkyries podcast are heard with WNBA analyst Michael Villanueva at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: MLB Looking for Partnership with Women Professional Softball

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Women’s softball league under the umbrella of Major League Baseball the Athletes Unlimited Softball League (logo from Athletes Unlimited)

MLB Looking for Partnership with Women’s Professional Softball

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

You could say that Caitlin Clark started the popularity and impact, especially economic impact, of women’s professional basketball. Super talented, she increased the interest, exposure, and support for women’s sports in the country.

After her college years at the University of Iowa, she moved to the WNBA, where she played for the Indiana Fever as the team’s first-round draft pick in 2024, helping to revive the WNBA.

It is not as though the WNBA was not popular before Caitlin Clark’s arrival, but there is no doubt that since her arrival, the WNBA has become much more popular. Currently, the Indiana Fever’s star is sidelined with an injury and expected to miss a couple of weeks, maybe more.

The newest WNBA team is the Golden State Valkyries, which debuted this 2025 season. The Valkyries are the first new WNBA franchise since the Atlanta Dream joined in 2008. They’re based in San Francisco and play at the Chase Center. The NBA owns 42% of the WNBA and provides a significant annual endowment to help cover operational costs. 

There is a sort of renaissance in professional women’s sports in the United States, and Major League Baseball (MLB) is investing in the new Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) to replicate the success of establishing a professional softball league.

MLB is making a long-term investment, which includes media coverage on the popular MLB Network and marketing on Major League Baseball’s digital platforms. This is the first time Major League Baseball has invested in a women’s professional league.

Aiming to emulate the WNBA’s success by establishing a stable and sustainable professional softball league, MLB’s investment is a multi-year financial commitment that includes media coverage on MLB Network and marketing on MLB’s digital platforms.

This investment for MLB is a first-of-its-kind collaboration with a women’s professional sports league. This is very significant, after all, MLB is the oldest professional sports league in the United States, founded in 1876, with the National League and the American League joining later in 1901.

In 2000, the two leagues merged to form a single organization; before that, they were known as the National League and the American League. Some of us with extensive experience in baseball media recall when the NL published the Green Media book and the AL published the Red Media Guide.

For the record, there are other two women’s professional league that pay their players, aside from the WNBA. They are the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), both of which play here in the United States.

I am a strong supporter of women’s sports, and I have five ladies in my family who share my passion for sports. Congratulations to Major League Baseball, and I wish them the best of luck in this new endeavor.

“Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” -Serena Williams.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com