SAN FRANCISCO — The scoreboard confirmed an 83-82 loss for the Golden State Valkyries of their preseason debut, but the vibes inside Chase Middle would recommend in any other case.
Regardless of falling to the Los Angeles Sparks of their first-ever preseason recreation, the Valkyries confirmed promise and left the ground to a standing ovation from the Bay Space crowd.
“It felt like a playoff game,” head coach Natalie Nakase stated. “Our players played with so much passion, and as soon as you saw us dive on the floor or give a tough foul or a block a shot, that crowd just responded.”
The Valkyries rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit and tied the sport two separate occasions within the second half, however fell simply brief in the long run as Laeticia Amihere’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer lower the Los Angeles lead from 4 the clock hit zeroes.
Nonetheless, Golden State got here away from Tuesday’s recreation content material with its effort.
“It was a blessing finally seeing this all come to pass,” nine-year veteran Kayla Thornton stated. “Even though we didn’t get the outcome we wanted, the cheers and stuff like that was great. This was our first game and I thought we did a tremendous job.”
Followers cheer earlier than the Golden State Valkyries first WNBA pre-season recreation towards the Los Angeles Sparks on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Might 6, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the Valkyries’ first preseason recreation:
Golden State has strong trio in beginning lineup
Whereas the beginning lineup will proceed to be tweaked over the following few weeks, the Valkyries appear to have a strong scoring trio of Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings and Tiffany Hayes.
The three starters all had a optimistic plus-minus ranking in almost 20 minutes of play and mixed for twenty-four factors, 16 rebounds and 5 assists.
“Their IQ just works,” Nakase stated. “They can all shoot threes, so the spacing is all around the three-point line.”
The trio was instrumental in bringing the Valkyries again from a 14-point deficit at halftime, orchestrating a 14-2 run that shifted momentum within the second half.
“We’re still all learning from each other, but I think we did a great job coming out of the second half,” Thornton stated.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton, #5 Temi Fagbenle, #14 Veronica Burton #22 and Tiffany Hayes #15 defend Los Angeles Sparks’ Dearica Hamby #5 after a free ball within the third quarter of their WNBA pre-season recreation on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Might 6, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Amihere pushes for rotation spot
Earlier than Tuesday, Amihere’s position on the workforce was comparatively unknown. The previous first-round choose was claimed by Golden State off waivers in February after struggling to discover a position with the Atlanta Dream final season.
However after main the Valkyries with 20 factors, Amihere appears to be like to be carving out a spot in Nakase’s rotation. The 6-foot-3 ahead began the second quarter and was a gentle scoring presence, serving to the Valkyries maintain tempo with the Sparks till the ultimate seconds of the sport.
“She’s almost like a big guard and I think it’s going to be very challenging for other teams to guard her because we can stretch her out,” Nakase stated.
Amihere shot 7 for 11 from the sphere, which included going 2 for 4 from the three-point line. She scored 5 baskets within the paint on a myriad of strikes from each the excessive and low submit.
“I was just keeping it simple,” Amihere stated. “I think this offense and how we move as a team is very conducive to how I like to play.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Laeticia Amihere is congratulated by teammate Megan Toure #38 after scoring a basket and drawing a foul within the fourth quarter of their WNBA pre-season recreation towards the Los Angeles Sparks on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Might 6, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
Inside protection wants work
The Valkyries entered Tuesday’s recreation lacking entrance courtroom depth as Cecilia Zandalasini and Stephanie Talbot had been dominated inactive hours earlier than tipoff.
The Sparks took benefit of that early with their starters within the recreation.
Los Angeles guard Kelsey Plum drove on the rim at will within the first two quarters, creating for herself and others. The Sparks scored 26 paint factors within the first half at an almost 60% clip.
Rookie guard impresses in WNBA debut
French guard Carla Leite is among the extra intriguing items to the Valkyries’ roster.
She was drafted ninth total by the Dallas Wings in 2024, however opted to stay abroad final yr. She was picked up within the enlargement draft in December and was thought-about one of many extra proficient guards throughout coaching camp.
She solely scored 4 factors and dished out two assists in quarter-hour of motion, however confirmed flashes of changing into a key guard within the rotation.
Leite had a easy driving layup within the first quarter that garnered oohs and aahs from the gang.
“If she sees a lane, she just goes, and that’s hard,” Nakase stated. “Just to see players that have that fearless mindset, I admire that.”
What does the rotation appear to be?
After slicing guard second-round choose Shyanne Sellers on Saturday, the Valkyries roster sits at 17 gamers.
Golden State dressed 14 gamers towards the Sparks with accidents to Zandalasini and Talbot, and French ahead Janelle Salaün is predicted to affix the roster someday earlier than the top of coaching camp.
Whereas everybody who dressed noticed the courtroom on Tuesday, Nakase appears to be like to have solidified a core group of gamers that features the starters, Amihere, Leite, veteran Julie Vanloo and second-year guard Kate Martin. These had been the 9 gamers that performed within the first half towards the Sparks’ starters.
That leaves Chloe Bibby, Kaitlyn Chen, Elissa Cunane, Kyara Linskens and Mamignan Toure on the fringes of creating the roster.
Nakase stated she did like what the group did to assist deliver the Valkyries again within the second half, however with the roster needing to be lower right down to 12 earlier than Golden State’s season opener subsequent week, will probably be an uphill battle for the gamers who didn’t play within the first half to make the workforce.
The Valkyries will play their closing preseason recreation on Sunday towards the Phoenix Mercury on the street earlier than their season opener at Chase Middle towards the Sparks on Might 16.
The Golden State Valkyries huddle after their 83-82 WNBA pre-season loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Might 6, 2025. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
