SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — The Golden State Valkyries made history Thursday night, becoming the first WNBA expansion team to clinch a playoff spot in its inaugural season. Behind Janelle Salaun’s 19 points, the Valkyries rallied to beat the Dallas Wings 84-80 at Chase Center.
Golden State improved to 23-18 with its fifth straight win. The victory secured a playoff berth with three regular-season games left, including two matchups against the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. The Valkyries sit in sixth place in the WNBA standings.
“This is awesome, honestly,” guard Veronica Burton said. “It’s a testament to all of the work that we put in, a testament to the belief that our coaching staff had in us. To do it with this group, we’re just enjoying it.”
Salaun led all Golden State scorers with 19 points. Burton added 15 points and five assists. Carla Leite scored 15 on 6-of-8 shooting. The win kept the team’s home sellout streak alive, marking the 21st consecutive sellout in as many home games.
Dallas started the game hot, jumping out to a 10-0 lead. Golden State answered with a 19-6 run to close the gap. The Wings finished the first half on a 17-3 burst, building a 41-32 halftime lead after the Valkyries missed 12 of 13 shots.
The second half told a different story. Salaun drained back-to-back 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to spark the comeback. Kate Martin also hit a clutch 3 late in the third quarter to cut the deficit.
Burton’s three-point play with 22.3 seconds left sealed the win. She then added four free throws in the closing moments to secure the playoff-clinching victory.
Monique Billings also delivered on defense, blocking a shot with 2:34 to go that set up a Leite jumper on the other end.
For Dallas, rookie guard Paige Bueckers led the way with 27 points and six assists. She also passed Cappie Pondexter for fifth place on the all-time rookie scoring list with 625 points. Despite her efforts, the Wings dropped their ninth straight game and their 14th in 15 contests.
Bueckers briefly gave Dallas the lead with a three-point play at the 3:34 mark, making it 74-72. But the Valkyries responded with clutch shots and defensive stops to close the game.
Head coach Natalie Nakase praised her players but made it clear that the playoff spot is only the beginning.
“We’re not done yet,” Nakase said. “Maybe after the season, after this is all done, I’ll reflect. But I’ve got to stay present. I think that’s why we’ve been able to do what we do, because we stay present. They can enjoy this, but I also keep them humble. Y’all want to continue to make strides? Then let’s stay focused.”
The Valkyries will now prepare for their final three regular-season games, with playoff seeding still at stake. Top scorer Tiffany Hayes has missed five straight games with a left knee injury, and her status remains uncertain heading into the postseason.
Golden State has become one of the WNBA’s biggest stories this season. From record-setting sellouts to a playoff berth in year one, the Valkyries have quickly built a passionate fan base in the Bay Area.
The team will try to complete a perfect home attendance run on Saturday when the Minnesota Lynx visit Chase Center. Fans have packed the arena all season, giving the Valkyries a strong home-court advantage.
For now, the celebration is well-earned. Salaun summed up the moment as she grabbed the microphone after the final buzzer: “Let’s goooooo!”
Golden State will enjoy the milestone but knows more challenges await. With the playoffs ahead, the Valkyries have a chance to make even more history in their debut season.
