Valkyries Drop Opener to Sparks Despite Electric Sellout Crowd at Chase Center
San Francisco – On a night rich with symbolism, spectacle, and star power, the Golden State Valkyries made their long-awaited WNBA debut. The atmosphere was everything they hoped for with the league’s commissioner in attendance. The result on the scoreboard was not.
Despite a roaring, sold-out crowd of 18,064 fans at Chase Center, the Valkyries fell to the Los Angeles Sparks 84–67 in their inaugural game. A competitive first half gave way to late-game struggles, as Golden State was outscored 18–7 in the fourth quarter. The Sparks’ Kelsey Plum was unstoppable, pouring in 37 points to spoil the party in San Francisco.
Turnovers Tell the Story
After taking a one-point lead into the second quarter and trailing by just three at halftime, the Valkyries were undone by their own mistakes. Golden State committed 21 turnovers which the Sparks converted into 25 points.
“Taking care of the ball,” said Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase when asked what her team needs to improve. “Giving up that many possessions… it’s very hard to win a game that way.”
The Valkyries hung around into the third quarter behind a flurry of threes from Julie Vanloo and steady play from Temi Fágbénlé, who finished with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting. But the Sparks’ pressure defense and Plum’s relentless pace broke the game open in the final frame.
Hayes, Fágbénlé Set the Tone for Golden State
Veteran Tiffany Hayes, fresh off a Sixth Woman of the Year campaign, led Golden State with 19 points and 9 rebounds, displaying the kind of intensity that made her a priority addition during the offseason. Fágbénlé was efficient and poised, adding 4 assists and 5 rebounds to her 15-point performance.
Vanloo sparked the offense with 14 points off the bench, including 4 made threes. But the Valkyries never found offensive rhythm late, shooting just 25% in the fourth quarter and failing to hit a field goal over the final four minutes.
Kelsey Plum’s Masterclass
The night belonged to Plum, who reminded the league of her scoring prowess. The All-Star guard torched Golden State with a 37-point performance, shooting 11-of-19 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line. She added 6 assists and 2 steals, dictating the game’s tempo and delivering in every clutch moment.
A Night to Remember Off the Court
If the final score stung, the moment wasn’t lost on anyone in the building. From the deafening ovations to the pregame festivities, the Valkyries were welcomed into the WNBA with the type of fanfare rarely seen for an expansion team.
“Loud. I mean, loud,” Nakase said with a smile. “That’s exactly what I wanted, if I could have dreamed of.”
The were gracious to the home team, giving them a standing ovation at the final buzzer.
The game drew an impressive guest list. In attendance were:
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr
- Warriors players Brandin Podziemski, Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield, and Jonathan Kuminga
- WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert
- Former NBA coach and Nakase mentor Doc Rivers
- Actress and comedian Ali Wong
- Danielle Slaton, former USWNT player and co-founder of Bay FC
The crowd roared for every made basket, every hustle play, and every sign that professional women’s basketball had finally arrived in the Bay.
What’s Next
The Valkyries (0–1) won’t have to wait long for redemption. They return to Chase Center on Wednesday, May 21 to host the Washington Mystics.
