Ballhalla Buzzing: Golden State’s Expansion Era Evolves into a Movement
SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries aren’t playing like a team in its inaugural season, and Chase Center knows it.
In front of their seventh consecutive sellout crowd, the Valkyries routed the Connecticut Sun 87–63 on Sunday night, continuing to build both their record and their reputation. With a balanced attack, stifling defense, and unmistakable energy from their home fans at “Ballhalla,” Golden State improved to 7–6, asserting itself as one of the most compelling stories of the WNBA season.
The Valkyries showcased their depth, with all 11 players who stepped on the court recording points.
Dominant Defense, Balanced Attack
Golden State set the tone early and took over the game with a 36–12 second quarter, their highest-scoring period of the season and the most points the Sun have allowed in a quarter all year. The Valkyries forced 14 turnovers, outrebounded Connecticut 51–35, and held the visitors to just 30.3% shooting.
Kayla Thornton led the way with 21 points and eight rebounds, just one point shy of her career high. Laeticia Amihere posted her first WNBA double-double with 10 points and 12 boards, and all 11 Valkyries who played got on the scoreboard.
“I think we just kind of stuck to the game plan. We knew that we couldn’t come in here relaxed,” Thornton said of her team’s focused start.
“Again, this is another team that their record does not reflect who they are,” she continued. “They’re a great team and we didn’t want the same thing that happened against Dallas to happen tonight. So shout out to our team and shout out to our fans tonight.”
Tiffany Hayes added 14 points and praised the team’s offensive discipline. “If they’re going to give us the paint, we’re going to take that,” she said. “We sprayed out when we needed to and people knocked down their shots.”
Stephanie Talbot’s All-Around Impact
Stephanie Talbot once again impacted the game beyond the box score, finishing with six points, 10 rebounds, and four assists in just under 19 minutes. Nakase emphasized Talbot’s ability to take on any assignment.
“She defended multiple people… Caitlin [Clark], [Aliyah] Boston,” Nakase said of Talbot’s previous outing. “And then tonight she comes in and she was moving that ball, making the right reads… she just takes ownership, and that’s what we need.”
Hayes lauded Talbot’s impact, stating, “She’s huge, man. Steph, shout out to Steph. That’s big for us, getting those extra possessions and dagger threes afterwards. So kudos to Steph. She’s always in there working hard so I’m glad that people are starting to see her hard work.”
Team Effort and Depth
Laeticia Amihere achieved her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-best 12 rebounds. Chloe Bibby contributed her second consecutive double-digit scoring performance with 11 points, including a strong 3-for-7 (42.9%) from beyond the arc.
Rookie Kaitlyn Chen made her mark early, scoring her first career field goal on an and-one layup in the second quarter, finishing with five points. Nakase praised Chen’s readiness, noting, “She’s been obviously practicing with more of our second unit, just getting more familiar with the players and their frequencies and what they like, and so she stepped in right away. I mean, she was prepared. Credit to her positional coaches, they’ve been doing a great job on the off days with her. So, yeah, she was prepared.”
Aerial Powers and Bree Hall made their Valkyries debuts, with Powers scoring two points and Hall adding three.
Golden State’s commitment to ball security was evident, as they recorded single-digit turnovers for the second consecutive game with nine turnovers tonight, following seven against Indiana on June 19. The Valkyries also dominated the boards, outrebounding the Sun 51-35.
Aneesha Morrow led Connecticut with 14 oints puls four rebounds. Jacy Sheldon added 10 points.
A Fanbase in Full Flight
Sunday’s game marked Golden State’s seventh straight home sellout giving them a perfect record at the gate. The Bay Area continues to embrace the Valkyries as more than just a new team. With a league-leading attendance average and an on-court product defined by energy, effort, and cohesion, the Valkyries’ arrival is already reshaping the WNBA landscape.
The consistent turnout highlights the immediate connection the team has forged with its community, creating an undeniable home-court advantage that fuels their impressive trajectory.
Up Next
The Valkyries (7–6) host the New York Liberty on Wednesday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game airs locally on KPIX+, KMAX, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.
The Connecticut Sun (2–12) continue their road trip with a game against the Las Vegas Aces on Wednesday at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT.
