Golden State Postgame Notes: Valkyries 86, Fire 69
WNBA Golden State Valkyries

Golden State Postgame Notes: Valkyries 86, Fire 69

Published on August 30, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Source: Golden State Valkyries News Release


By the Numbers

Tiffany Hayes led the Valkyries in scoring with 18 points, including 14 points in the first quarter which matched the Fire's team total in the first. Hayes shot 7-12 (58.3 percent) from the field, 2-5 (40 percent) from three, and a perfect 2-2 from the line, adding six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

Kayla Thornton recorded 17 points on 5-8 (62.5 percent) shooting, including 3-5 (60 percent) from three and a perfect 4-4 from the line, also adding two rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.

Kaitlyn Chen finished with 15 points in 27 minutes on 62.5 percent (5-8) shooting from the floor.

Kaila Charles led all players with eight rebounds to go with 11 points and five assists.

Miela Sowah scored her first-ever WNBA points on a layup in the fourth quarter.

Veronica Burton surpassed 500-career rebounds today, finishing with 11 points, six rebounds and six assists.

Golden State became the first team since New York in 2024 to hold its opponent to 70 or fewer points in four straight road games.

The Valkyries have won six of their last seven road games.

Golden State shot a season-high 19-21 (90.5 percent) from the free throw line (min. 15 attempts).

The Valkyries were without Janelle Salaün, Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini, who are not with the team due to international commitments.

The Valkyries head into the FIBA World Cup break second in the WNBA standings with a 29-11 record.

Quotes

HEAD COACH NATALIE NAKASE:

ON THE TEAM'S PERFORMANCE WITHOUT JANELLE SALAÜN, GABBY WILLIAMS, AND CECILIA ZANDALASINI:

"I love the fact that everyone still played their role, but they played it with maximum effort. I was really proud of that. I was very proud of the fact that we executed the game plan on both sides, and I thought we had our best start in the first half. I don't think the energy dropped at all...Especially being at the very end of the stretch of this long road trip, you couldn't even tell it was at the end. So credit to them for taking care of their bodies on the off time...I couldn't be happier."

ON PREPARING THE STAY-READY GROUP:

"Letting them know what the game plan was, but also to say, 'hey, continue to play your role. You don't need to be somebody else. We don't need you to take on the scoring load.' The ball will eventually find the hot hand - number one because we're super selfless, and more importantly, we continue to make the right reads. I was very proud of that."

ON REPRESENTING USA AT THE FIBA WORLD CUP:

"I'm excited about [coaching with team] USA. This is a dream come true for me. It's a job that I never thought I was going to get, and so just being able to be Kara's [Lawson] assistant, and then coach alongside Stephanie [White] and Nate [Tibbetts], I'm just excited to learn, represent the USA, and then get to see Gabby [Williams], Ceci [Zandalasini], Ja [Janelle Salaün], Miela [Sowah] over there. Just super excited to be around some of the best players in the world."

GOLDEN STATE GUARD TIFFANY HAYES AND FORWARD KAYLA THORNTON:

ON GOLDEN STATE'S DEPTH:

Thornton: "I think it's just great...Next person up, we just take our opportunity. We all believe in each other, and I feel like whoever starts and whoever comes in, you can't tell the difference, and that's what's important. We just do it for each other."

ON MAINTAINING MOMENTUM THROUGHOUT THE BREAK:

Thornton: "[We're] making sure that we go on this break and don't do nothing but make sure you do what you need. We [have to] come back, because these next four games after [the] World Cup are very vital heading into playoffs."

Up Next: Following the FIBA World Cup break, the Valkyries return home to host Portland on Friday, September 18, tipping off at 7:00 p.m. PT exclusively on ION, 95.7 THE GAME, Audacy App, & ESPN 1320.

Check out the Golden State Valkyries Statistics

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