All articles tagged with #golden state valkyries
The Chicago Sky edged the Golden State Valkyries 73-70 in a WNBA game that was halted in the third quarter after several sex toys were thrown onto the court. Sky guard Natasha Cloud condemned the spectators as 'weak' and 'lame,' noting the incident followed another disruption the previous day; Sydney Taylor hit a late 3 to seal the Sky win.
Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington again drew attention for rough contact, poking Cecilia Zandalasini in the eye and then hitting Tiffany Hayes in the mouth during a 91-71 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Neither hit was ruled a foul in that game, but Carrington picked up her second technical of the season for arguing with a referee. The incidents come four days after a prior Flagrant 2 on Sophie Cunningham and a controversial social-media post; the WNBA has not publicly commented, and Cunningham later scored three points off the bench in the game.
The Los Angeles Sparks are reportedly shopping Kelsey Plum ahead of the WNBA midseason deadline, with interest from multiple teams. Plum is having a career year (about 23.9 points and 6.4 assists per game) but has dealt with injuries, and potential destinations discussed include Golden State Valkyries as the best fit, Dallas Wings as a strong option, and Washington Mystics as a dark horse, with contract and re-signing considerations weighing on any deal.
Golden State’s Valkyries boast the league’s top defense but struggle for halfcourt offense, making a Kelsey Plum trade a logical, high-impact move. The piece argues a deal could land Plum from the Sparks (who must protect her value as an upcoming UFA) in exchange for assets like Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and multiple first-round picks, leveraging the Valkyries’ draft capital. Plum’s shooting (38.3% 3P on high volume), floor-raising playmaking, and downhill burst could unlock Golden State’s offense without sacrificing their defense, potentially pushing them into championship contention. The Sparks would likely push for additional assets, and the move is framed as a plausible, late-season swing at glory ahead of the Aug. 2 deadline.
Indiana Fever (14-9) expect Caitlin Clark to play vs. the Golden State Valkyries but will likely be limited to around 20–25 minutes as part of a cautious load-management approach after back soreness and a recent return from injury; the context comes as Clark has been listed as probable for a 15th time this season, with coach Stephanie White prioritizing long-term health during a busy schedule while Clark aims to reprise a strong showing against the Valkyries earlier this season.
Golden State rallied from an early deficit to beat Atlanta 88-83 at Gateway Center Arena, completing a season sweep and extending their win streak to four. Veronica Burton led GS with 21 points, Gabby Williams added 19, and reserve Janelle Salaun drilled three 3-pointers for 14. Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 22 points, while Angel Reese posted 17 points and 13 rebounds as the Dream stayed within reach late. The Valkyries also forced a season-high 15 steals and sealed the win with an 8-0 run in the final minutes.
Caitlin Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 career assists, but the Indiana Fever fell 90-88 to the Golden State Valkyries in San Francisco; she finished with 16 points, six assists and four rebounds, bringing her season totals to 1,118 points and 503 assists in her 59th game.
Caitlin Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 500 career assists in the second quarter, finishing with 16 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals as the Indiana Fever fell 90-88 to the Golden State Valkyries. Cunningham added 11 points off the bench, with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. The Fever led late but Aliyah Boston missed a potential tying shot with three seconds left, sealing the narrow loss; the Valkyries improved to 5-2 while Indiana dropped to 4-3.
Caitlin Clark piled up 22 points and 9 assists as the Indiana Fever defeated the Golden State Valkyries 90-82, with Sophie Cunningham contributing 11 off the bench. Indiana’s starting five combined for 70 points to control the game, while the Valkyries’ bench—led by Tiffany Hayes and Kaitlyn Chen—kept it close. The Fever improve to 4-2 and the Valkyries drop to 3-2, with a rematch set in the Bay Area on Thursday.
Dawn Staley publicly criticized WNBA reporter Matt Lively for naming Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere in discussing Kate Martin's cut from the Golden State Valkyries, sparking online backlash and fueling a broader debate about how women's basketball is covered.
Golden State Valkyries announce Iliana Rupert’s pregnancy, waiving Kate Martin and filing for a replacement contract to cover Rupert; Laeticia Amihere will step in behind Kiah Stokes, signaling Rupert’s likely time away. Martin would need to clear waivers to return on a developmental deal under the league’s rules, and Rupert can travel with the team and will be paid. Justė Jocytė’s contract was suspended later as she finishes postseason play in Spain.
In the 2026 WNBA draft, Seattle traded Marta Suárez and a future second-round pick to Golden State for Flau'jae Johnson, a deal that sparked confusion as Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin offered evasive remarks about strategy and finances while Seattle GM Talisa Rhea praised Johnson’s fit for the present and future; ESPN later revealed a pre-draft agreement on picks, suggesting the swap may have hinged on the picks rather than Johnson alone, leaving analysts to question the move’s rationale and its potential long-term impact if Suárez underperforms.
In a surprise during the 2026 WNBA draft in New York, the Golden State Valkyries drafted LSU star Flau’jae Johnson at No. 8 but immediately traded her rights to the Seattle Storm for Marta Suárez’s rights and a 2028 second-round pick. Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin said she would not detail salary-cap implications and stressed she wanted to be thoughtful about discussing players, while Storm GM Talisa Rhea said Johnson fits their present and future plans. The move was reportedly agreed upon before the picks were announced. Johnson, who averaged 14.2 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals as a senior, helped LSU win the 2023 national title.
The Golden State Valkyries' first playoff run ended with a narrow loss to the Minnesota Lynx, but the team and fans showed resilience and pride, highlighting the team's growth, strong defense, and dedicated fanbase in their inaugural season.
The Minnesota Lynx staged a remarkable comeback from a 17-point deficit to beat the Golden State Valkyries 75-74 in the WNBA playoffs, with key performances from veterans like Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, securing a 2-0 series lead and advancing to the semifinals.