​The Golden State Valkyries overcame a tepid start, posting just 30 points in the opening half, to defeat the Connecticut Sun 79-64. The win marked Golden State’s seventh in a row, setting a new franchise record, and propelled them to the status of the fastest WNBA expansion team to reach 40 victories, accomplished in 68 games. The victory came despite Gabby Williams being sidelined with a back contusion.
“We didn’t have a great start because we lost our voice in the first quarter, and when you’re tired, the first thing that goes is your mind,” said Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase. “Players stop communicating. There were stretches tonight where we pushed through that and reconnected as a group.” The turning point arrived in the second period when Golden State clamped down on Connecticut, limiting the Sun to six points on 3-for-15 shooting and riding out a six-minute drought. Veronica Burton became the first Valkyries player to reach double figures, delivering a clutch three-point play with 31 seconds left in the third and a buzzer-beating layup that put the score at 54-44. Golden State carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with a 6-0 burst highlighted by Burton’s triple to extend the lead to 16 and fueling an 11-0 surge in the third when the clock reached 60-44. Burton finished with 17 points and six assists.
Janelle Salaün came off the bench to contribute 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a plus-18 in 27 minutes. Kaila Charles drew the start in place of Williams, though Williams’ influence lingered from the sideline. “Gabby had a tremendous impact even though she wasn’t on the floor. She was among the loudest voices on the bench,” Nakase said. “She was constantly talking to teammates, encouraging them, and sharing what she was seeing. That’s exactly what we need from Gabby every game as one of our leaders.”
Burton reflected on the broader pattern of Golden State’s wins, noting that the team has found multiple routes to victory. “We’ve won games when we’ve shot the ball exceptionally well, and we’ve won games when we’ve struggled offensively, when a three wasn’t falling or when opponents took away our three-point attempts,” she said. “Different players have stepped up to score and contribute, and we’ve continued to discover various ways to win.”
For Connecticut, Diamond Miller led with 14 points, while Charlisse Leger-Walker and Olivia Nelson-Ododa each added 12, and Aaliyah Edwards scored 11. The Sun were missing key contributors Griner (left quad strain), Morrow (reconditioning), and Rivers (left ankle sprain). Head coach Meziane acknowledged that the absences helped compound the challenge but emphasized that fatigue could not excuse the execution problems. “We gave up too many one-on-one situations. We were not ready to rotate and provide rim protection, and we lost the 50-50 battles,” Meziane said. “I know the players are tired and we’re missing three crucial players, but that is not an excuse. Players must step up and take more pride in many facets of the game, starting with one-on-one defense.”
Leger-Walker, who finished with 12 points, said her comfort level has grown as the season has progressed, underscoring the Sun’s ongoing development in a demanding campaign. The result extended Golden State’s current string of victories and underscored the franchise’s rapid ascent in the league.