Washington Mystics at Golden State Valkyries
· Women's National Basketball AssociationVeronica Burton scores 22 to lead Valkyries to expansion franchise's first win, 76-74 over Mystics
Kayla Thornton converted a four-point play with 1:03 left and scored 18 points for the Valkyries, cheered on by a dancing Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski among the raucous sellout crowd. Streamers rained down after the final buzzer sounded.
Sonia Citron's 3 for Washington with 5 seconds left made it interesting.
Brittney Sykes scored 30 points and converted two free throws with 1:58 to play to put Washington ahead but the Valkyries knocked down all the big shots in the closing minutes after losing guard Tiffany Hayes to a nose injury late in the first half.
Burton banked in a Stephen Curry-like long 3-pointer to beat the halftime horn and put Golden State ahead 31-30 at the break.
Janelle Salaun scored 10 points and grabbed a key rebound in the waning moments while making her WNBA debut fresh off an Italian League title and Finals MVP honors for Beretta Famila Schio. Her 3-pointer with 2:07 in the first half was the team's first after 17 misses from deep to start the game.
Hayes was helped off the court late in the second quarter and didn't return after taking an arm to the face from Washington’s Shakira Austin and going down for several minutes.
She gave a thumbs up after she was helped off the court and went to the locker room with a towel pressed to her face.
Golden State, beginning its first season and playing at Chase Center that's also home to the NBA Warriors, finished just 7 of 37 from long range.
Regular Season Series
GS wins series 4-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of Game | 74 - 76 |
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
End of the 4th Quarter | 74 - 76 |
| 4th 0.0 | ![]() |
(00:00) [Mystics] REF-INITIATED REVIEW (CALL STANDS) | 74 - 76 |
| 4th 5.1 | ![]() |
Sonia Citron makes 25-foot three point jumper (Brittney Sykes assists) | 74 - 76 |
| 4th 9.0 | ![]() |
Mystics timeout | 71 - 76 |
Statistics
WSH |
GS |
|
|---|---|---|
| 25-66 | FG | 23-72 |
| 38 | Field Goal % | 32 |
| 7-20 | 3PT | 7-37 |
| 35 | Three Point % | 19 |
| 17-23 | FT | 23-28 |
| 74 | Free Throw % | 82 |
| 43 | Rebounds | 37 |
| 7 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 36 | Defensive Rebounds | 26 |
| 19 | Assists | 15 |
| 6 | Steals | 10 |
| 3 | Blocks | 2 |
| 17 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 1 | Team Turnovers | 2 |
| 18 | Total Turnovers | 13 |
| 2 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 2 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 17 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 7 |
| 9 | Fast Break Points | 10 |
| 32 | Points in Paint | 28 |
| 21 | Fouls | 22 |
| 9 | Largest Lead | 7 |
Game Information
Location: San Francisco, CA
Attendance: 18,064 · Capacity:
2025-26 Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atlanta |
- | 7 | L3 | 0.6315789 | 12 |
New York |
0.5 | 8 | L2 | 0.6 | 12 |
Indiana |
1 | 8 | W1 | 0.57894737 | 11 |
Washington |
2.5 | 9 | W1 | 0.5 | 9 |
Toronto |
3 | 10 | L1 | 0.47368422 | 9 |
Chicago |
6 | 13 | L1 | 0.31578946 | 6 |
Connecticut |
8 | 15 | W2 | 0.21052632 | 4 |
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota |
- | 4 | W2 | 0.7894737 | 15 |
Las Vegas |
1 | 5 | W2 | 0.7368421 | 14 |
Golden State |
2.5 | 7 | W3 | 0.65 | 13 |
Dallas |
4 | 8 | L2 | 0.57894737 | 11 |
Los Angeles |
6.5 | 10 | L2 | 0.44444445 | 8 |
Portland |
7.5 | 12 | L3 | 0.4 | 8 |
Phoenix |
8.5 | 13 | W2 | 0.35 | 7 |
Seattle |
10.5 | 15 | W2 | 0.25 | 5 |
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GS
Atlanta
New York
Indiana
Toronto
Chicago
Connecticut
Minnesota
Las Vegas
Dallas
Los Angeles
Portland
Phoenix
Seattle