​The Golden State Valkyries have quietly become one of the best teams in the WNBA, putting the league on notice with a franchise-best, seven-game winning streak.It’s Year 2. The cat’s out of the bag. This isn’t just a new expansion team excited to take the court in front of thousands of fans. The Valkyries are a force to reckon with. A potential contender for the WNBA title.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn USA TODAY Sports’ latest WNBA power rankings, the Valkyries lead the list, claiming the No. 1 spot, moving up from their previous second-place rank a week ago. While teams like the Minnesota Lynx and Las Vegas Aces dominate the mainstream news cycle in the W, Golden State is tiptoeing around the conversation over who’s the league’s best.”I think we’re growing in terms of playing all four quarters. Number one, I think we’re executing the game plan on both ends,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase told reporters just before their game against the Indiana Fever on July 15. “So, attention to detail has been better. I wouldn’t say it’s at, like, a high level yet, and then our communication is solid, but it does drop sometimes. And so V (Veronica Burton) and Gabby (Williams), I would say even Kaitlyn (Chen) and (Tiffany Hayes), they’re doing a great job.”The Valkyries improved their overall record to 17-7 after a 79-64 win against the Connecticut Sun on July 10. Golden State is 1.5 games back of the Minnesota Lynx for best record in the league (19-6). The Valkyries are tied at second with the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces.They’ve been able to put together a nucleus that plays for each other, on both ends of the floor. The Valkyries make, and take, the most 3-point shots in the league, averaging 10.6 makes on 30.6 attempts. They rank fifth in 3-point shooting percentage at 34.6%, tied with the Portland Fire.1 / 32Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd (35) blocks a shot by Chicago Sky guard Sydney Taylor (12) during the second half at the American Airlines Center on July 12, 2026.(Jerome Miron, Imagn Images)Defensively, they have the second-best defensive rating behind the Lynx (100.4). Golden State has the second-best plus/minus rating in the league with a +5.8 average margin. Golden State forced a season-best 20 turnovers in an 83-75 win over the Toronto Tempo on July 8. The Valkyries then bested that mark against the Connecticut Sun by forcing 22 turnovers in a 79-64 win on July 10.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement”No, I think we do have an identity of toughness, grittiness, connectivity. I mean, those words kind of come to mind. I would say ultra-competitive, too,” Nakase said to reporters after a June 9 win against the Phoenix Mercury.Golden State is led by Gabby Williams, who leads the team averaging 15 points and 1.6 steals per game. Second-year forward Janelle Salaun is second on the team in points per game, averaging 13 per outing. She also ranks third in the W in most 3-point shots made with 62 total.Veronica Burton averages 1