SAN FRANCISCO — Regardless of dropping a lopsided season-opener to the Los Angeles Sparks, the gang at Chase Middle gave the enlargement Valkyries a spherical of applause as they walked off the ground.
Golden State confirmed its battle because the Valkyries practically got here again from a 15-point deficit within the third quarter. However of their first-ever recreation, the Valkyries went chilly within the fourth quarter as they fell 84-67 in entrance of a sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Middle.
Nonetheless, the Valkyries set a tone that they hope continues for the remainder of the season.
The Golden State Valkyries huddles earlier than the beginning of their house opener in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Might 16, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
“With the type of environment that we had, would I take that every single time, every game? Yes, 100%,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase mentioned. “But for a lot of them, this is the first time to start, first time to heavy minutes. … We’ll clean it up, we’ll take a look at it. But I know there’s a lot of room for improvement and their effort was there.”
Listed here are 5 takeaways from the sport:
Turnovers shifted the sport
The Sparks took benefit of sloppy play from the Valkyries all through Friday’s recreation.
Golden State turned the ball over 21 instances, leading to 25 L.A. factors.
Regardless of capturing the Valkyries again into the sport, Julie Vanloo’s three fourth-quarter turnovers turned out to be pricey for the Valkyries as they tried to make a run within the last interval. Vanloo ended the evening with a team-high six turnovers whereas meting out two assists.
“I’m going to think about the six turnovers I did because I’m a point guard,” Vanloo mentioned. “I cannot have six turnovers and I know what I have to work on.”
All 9 gamers who checked into the sport for the Valkyries had at the very least one turnover. Tiffany Hayes (4), Carla Leite (3) and Monique Billings (2) additionally had a number of turnovers.
Fagbenle reveals vary
Earlier than Friday’s recreation, Temi Fagbenle had made simply three 3-pointers in her four-year WNBA profession. However in her first recreation with the Valkyries, Fagbenle has already proven she may very well be a stretch 5 in Nakase’s offense.
The 6-foot-4 middle went 2 for 4 from deep and hit a plethora of midrange photographs to maintain the Sparks’ protection sincere within the first half.
“She shoots all those threes (in practice) that she knows she’s going to get,” Nakase mentioned. “A lot of the 5s will pull in. They’re just not used to guarding a 5 that’s out and stretched on the floor, so just credit to her hard work.”
Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) takes a shot in opposition to Sparks’ Rickea Jackson (2) within the first quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Might 16, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Vanloo’s flurry ignites crowd
The Sparks seemingly had the sport in full management within the third quarter as they held onto a 15-point lead with three minutes left within the interval.
However it was Vanloo who introduced the Valkyries all the way in which again to make issues aggressive going into the fourth quarter. In a matter of a minute, Vanloo knocked down three consecutive 3s, the final of which was a step again with a defender in her face, to convey Golden State to inside six going into the fourth quarter.
The gang fed off Vanloo’s buckets, exploding with cheers as every shot went by the underside of the web.
With Steve Kerr sitting courtside, the veteran level guard jokingly instructed the Golden State Warriors’ coach that she may fill in for Stephen Curry.
“The moment I saw Steve Kerr, I just got hyped,” Vanloo mentioned. “I said ‘All right, let me show him something.’”
Vanloo got here off the bench to attain 14 factors. Nakase mentioned she favored Vanloo’s fearlessness throughout that second.
“You’re going to get passion and the fans are going to get firsthand that type of action,” Nakase mentioned. “I want her to be herself.”
Zone protection labored
Within the second quarter, the Valkyries used a high-pressure 2-3 zone that appeared to trouble the Sparks.
Golden State solely used the tactic for a handful of possessions, however the technique resulted in a pressured turnover and no factors scored by LA.
“We actually didn’t even practice the zone that much, so that was a positive I took away,” Nakase mentioned. “You always want to keep teams off rhythm. … I just wanted to try it and see how it worked and it worked.”
The Golden State Valkyries huddle throughout a day trip through the third quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Might 16, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Dwelling-court benefit
Whereas it was simply the primary recreation of the season, the Chase Middle benefit was in full pressure.
The sellout crowd saved the vitality going all evening, even when the sport was slipping away for the Valkyries.
“I had a lot of fun out there and I enjoyed the energy from the crowd,” Hayes mentioned.
The Valkyries went all out to pay homage to the Bay Space of their first-ever recreation.
Oakland R&B artist Goapele sang the nationwide anthem. Legendary Vallejo rapper E-40 carried out a few of his greatest hits through the halftime present. And Golden State Warriors gamers Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski have been in attendance.
“It was loud,” Nakase mentioned. “That’s exactly what I wanted. If I could have dreamed of an environment, the hostility of it, just the roars, the screams, the shouts…. That crowd, they’re going to support us regardless. So, yeah, I need to have that type of crowd. It’s just, it’s surreal.”
Valkyries’ Monique Billings (25) takes a shot in opposition to Sparks’ Azurá Stevens (23) and Sparks’ Dearica Hamby (5) through the fourth quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, Might 16, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: Might 17, 2025 at 7:00 AM PDT
