San Francisco, CA- The Golden State Valkyries buried a franchise-record 18 3-pointers and turned a dominant first half into a convincing 95-77 victory over the Portland Fire on Wednesday night at Chase Center, opening Commissioner’s Cup play with one of the most complete performances in franchise history.
Golden State (6-3) connected on 52.2% of its 3-point attempts in the first half, knocking down 12 shots from beyond the arc before halftime to build a commanding 56-36 lead. The Valkyries never trailed after the opening minutes and withstood a late Portland rally to secure their sixth win of the season.
Kayla Thornton led a balanced Golden State attack with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, as the Valkyries showcased the perimeter shooting and defensive intensity that have become hallmarks of their early-season success. Janelle Salaün added 18 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting night, while Veronica Burton contributed 10 points and nine assists despite entering the game listed as questionable with a bruised muscle suffered in Sunday’s loss to Las Vegas.
“It goes back to our guards getting in the paint and spraying it out and just believing that we can shoot and knock them down,” Thornton said after the game. “When everybody is touching the ball and trusting one another, those shots start falling.”
Golden State established control early by forcing Portland into difficult half-court possessions while turning defensive stops into transition opportunities. The Valkyries’ ball movement repeatedly created open looks on the perimeter, and they capitalized throughout the opening 20 minutes.
The hot shooting stretched Portland’s defense thin and allowed Golden State to dictate the pace. By halftime, the Valkyries had already matched one of their best offensive performances of the season, building a 20-point cushion behind a barrage of long-range baskets.
Coach Natalie Nakase credited the team’s work on the defensive end for fueling the offensive explosion.
“Defense and rebounding were the foundation that allowed the Valkyries to generate their offense and three-point opportunities,” Nakase said. “When we’re defending at a high level, we’re able to play faster and get the kind of shots we want.”
The game also featured an emotional return for former Golden State point guard Carla Leite, now with Portland. Before tipoff, the Valkyries honored Leite with a tribute video that prompted a standing ovation from the Chase Center crowd. The guard responded with 10 points and seven assists for the Fire, drawing loud cheers throughout the night.
Portland (6-5) struggled to recover from its slow start despite a strong effort from center Megan Gustafson, who led the Fire with 13 points and eight rebounds. The expansion franchise also received contributions from Leite and its supporting cast, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
The Fire mounted their best run in the fourth quarter, using an 11-1 surge to trim the deficit to single digits and briefly inject some drama into the contest. Golden State quickly answered, however, with consecutive baskets and timely defensive stops that restored order and extinguished any hopes of a comeback.
One of the night’s brightest moments for the Valkyries came from rookie Justė Jocytė. The Lithuanian guard, who made her WNBA debut just last week, scored a season-high eight points off the bench and continued to show signs of becoming an important contributor in Golden State’s rotation.
The victory marked another milestone for the league’s newest franchise, as the Valkyries continued to build momentum in their inaugural season. Their record-setting shooting performance, combined with disciplined defense and balanced scoring, sent a message to the rest of the WNBA that Golden State is quickly becoming a formidable contender.
With the win, the Valkyries improved to 6-3 and opened Commissioner’s Cup competition on a high note, while Portland fell to 6-5 despite a spirited late push. Golden State will look to carry the momentum into its next matchup as it continues its pursuit of a playoff spot in its historic first season.
