Valkyries Open up Long-Awaited Golden State Era on Friday Night

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WNBA Golden State Valkyries

Valkyries Open up Long-Awaited Golden State Era on Friday Night

May 17, 2025 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Golden State Valkyries News Release


SAN FRANCISCO - The Golden State Valkyries tipped off their inaugural season home opener on Friday night, falling to Los Angeles, 84-67.

By the Numbers

- The Valkyries drew a sellout attendance of 18,064, which is the second-highest attendance by a WNBA team in their first-ever home game (Washington Mystics - 20,674 on 6/19/1998)

o Tonight's attendance was also the sixth highest in a team's first home game of the season.

- Kayla Thornton recorded the first-ever points in franchise history at the 9:36 mark. Kate Martin handed out the first assist at 8:14, and Temi Fágbénlé knocked down the first three-pointer at 6:53 in the first quarter.

- Tiffany Hayes led the team with 19 points on 43.8 percent (7-16) shooting and nine rebounds.

- Fágbénlé posted 15 points on 75.0 percent (6-8) shooting, Julie Vanloo added 14 points off the bench, nine of which came in the third on three-straight threes.

- Golden State had 19 assists on 29 field goals.

Game Rewind

Thornton got things going with a defensive rebound and a layup in transition for the early 2-0 lead. Fágbénlé made a jumper off an assist from Veronica Burton to put the hosts up four. Los Angeles was able to tie things up at 8-8 on Azurá Stevens' layup. Hayes got the steal-and-score midway through the first quarter to give Golden State a 10-8 advantage, and Fágbénlé added a three the next possession. The back-and-forth continued with both teams trading baskets before Hayes' three put the Valkyries up one going into the second.

Vanloo gave Golden State a 25-22 lead on her first three of the night. The Sparks put together a 9-0 run to go up 38-30. The Valkyries cut it to three on a Thornton jumper, and Burton knocked down two free throws in the final minute to go into halftime down 42-39.

Martin made both free throws to start the second half for Golden State, and Hayes made a three a few minutes later to counter Kelsey Plum's three-pointer the previous possession. Los Angeles pushed their lead to 53-44 on a 7-0 run. With just under three to go, Vanloo knocked down a three, then followed up with another to cut it to nine and force a Sparks timeout. Vanloo continued her sharp shooting out of the break with her third consecutive three, all on assists from Fágbénlé, that made it 62-56. Golden State ended the third on a 12-4 run to cut the deficit to six, 66-60.

Hayes opened the fourth with a nice behind-the-back dribble to the layup, but Los Angeles once again put together a 7-0 run to go up 11 before Billings made a three from the wing. Golden State struggled offensively, scoring just seven points in the quarter as Los Angeles closed out the win on an 18-5 run for the season-opening victory.

Up Next

Golden State hosts Washington on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on KPIX+, KMAX, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.

For more information on the Valkyries 2025 season, presented by Kaiser Permanente, please visit valkyries.com.

Check out the Golden State Valkyries Statistics



Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 17, 2025


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