Golden State Valkyries at Los Angeles Sparks
· Women's National Basketball AssociationValkyries blow most of a 19-point lead before beating the Sparks 84-78
Gabby Williams and Kayla Thornton scored 11 points apiece for the Valkyries (23-9), who have won four straight and have the best record in the WNBA since June 24 (13-2).
The Valkyries were 12 of 18 (66.7%) from the field and Zandalasini scored nine points on 3-of-3 shooting from 3-point range in Golden State's highest-scoring first quarter this season to take a 29-15 lead into the second.
Golden State took a 66-47 lead, its biggest of the game, when Kaitlyn Chen made a layup 24 seconds into the fourth quarter. The Sparks scored 26 of the next 34 points to trim the deficit to a point when Ariel Atkins hit a 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining.
Williams made a straightaway bank shot, Janelle Salaun hit a 3-pointer and Thornton made two free throws with 21 seconds left that gave the Valkyries an 81-73 lead.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 16 points and Erica Wheeler added 15 for the Sparks (12-19). Dearica Hamby had 12 points and Kiana Williams 10, all in the first quarter.
Golden State's Kiah Stokes took an inadvertent elbow from Cameron Brink with 6:48 to play and left the game for good due to a neck contusion.
Monique Akoa Makani (injury/illness) did not play for the Sparks.
Sparks: Play Phoenix at the Galen Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
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Regular Season Series
GS wins series 3-0
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 84 - 78 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 84 - 78 |
| 4th 4.7 |  |
Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2 | 84 - 78 |
| 4th 4.7 | |
Kaila Charles enters the game for Tiffany Hayes | 83 - 78 |
| 4th 4.7 | |
Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2 | 83 - 78 |
Statistics
 GS |
 LA |
|
|---|---|---|
| 32-69 | FG | 32-70 |
| 46 | Field Goal % | 46 |
| 12-34 | 3PT | 10-31 |
| 35 | Three Point % | 32 |
| 8-9 | FT | 4-9 |
| 89 | Free Throw % | 44 |
| 36 | Rebounds | 28 |
| 11 | Offensive Rebounds | 11 |
| 25 | Defensive Rebounds | 17 |
| 22 | Assists | 18 |
| 7 | Steals | 6 |
| 2 | Blocks | 1 |
| 13 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 2 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 11 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 18 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 2 | Fast Break Points | 5 |
| 34 | Points in Paint | 38 |
| 16 | Fouls | 17 |
| 19 | Largest Lead | 0 |
| 0 | Lead Changes | 0 |
| 99 | Percent Led | 0 |
Game Information
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Attendance: 15,739 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Minnesota |
- | 11 | W1 | 0.75 | 33 |
 Golden State |
1 | 12 | W1 | 0.72727275 | 32 |
 Las Vegas |
2 | 13 | W7 | 0.70454544 | 31 |
 Dallas |
6 | 17 | W1 | 0.6136364 | 27 |
 Portland |
16 | 27 | W1 | 0.38636363 | 17 |
 Los Angeles |
17 | 28 | L2 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Phoenix |
17 | 28 | L1 | 0.36363637 | 16 |
 Seattle |
25 | 36 | L5 | 0.18181819 | 8 |
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