French Connection and Cultural Flair Power Valkyries’ 99-62 Rout of Mystics

SAN FRANCISCO — Tonight, the Valkyries didn’t just win, they celebrated basketball as a truly international language, and did so in blowout fashion.

The Golden State Valkyries delivered one of their most complete performances of the season on Saturday evening, overwhelming the Washington Mystics 99-62 at Ballhalla in San Francisco.

Before another sellout crowd of 18,064, the team’s 18th straight home sellout in its inaugural season, the Valkyries set the tone with stifling defense and crisp execution, cruising to their largest margin of victory this year. The dominant showing pushed Golden State to 20-18 on the season, keeping them firmly in the playoff race.

The Mystics never found footing against a Valkyries defense that suffocated them from the start. Washington managed just eight points in the opening quarter, then only 22 total in the first half, both season lows for a Golden State opponent.

The 51-22 halftime score-line resembled a college football blowout more than a basketball game, fitting for a weekend that also marked the kickoff of the college football season.

For comparison, Washington didn’t even reach 32 points until midway through the third quarter, a mark the Valkyries had already eclipsed in just the second quarter alone. Golden State’s 32-point second period, punctuated by a 23-9 run to close the half, buried the Mystics before they could muster any response.

Head coach Natalie Nakase praised the effort, pointing to the team’s rest and recovery during the week as a major factor. “I think when we do get rest, we had two to three days off. I think when there's a time where you can recover, both mentally and physically, then you could execute game plans. You saw us connected, we were communicating on a very high level defensively. Overall effort and overall recovery.”

Saturday’s win carried a distinctly international flavor. French standouts Janelle Salaün, Carla Leite, and Illiana Rupert spearheaded the attack in what felt like a showcase of France’s basketball pipeline.

Salaün led all scorers with 20 points on efficient 7-of-11 shooting, tying her career high with four made threes while also pulling down six rebounds.

Leite came off the bench and was nearly flawless, tallying 19 points in just 19 minutes on 5-for-5 shooting and 8-for-9 from the free throw line.

Rupert chipped in with steady defense and posted an impressive +36 in the box score, highlighting her impact even beyond her statistical line.

Salaün complimented Leite and expressed why she enjoys playing with her fellow French compadre. "Well, first she's French. I remember when I first like met her on a national when we did the national team camp. I came at her and I talked to her because I always liked her game since I've been playing against her. That's nice that I'm playing with her now. I'm just glad."

The international theme carried into the stands as well. It was Filipino Heritage Night at Ballhalla and fans were treated to a dynamic halftime performance from rapper Ruby Ibarra. Working the entire court while performing one of her songs, Ibarra electrified the crowd and further emphasized the global identity of this Valkyries franchise.

Additional ethnic significance took center stage before tipoff with the meaningful meeting between two cultural trailblazers. Jeremy Lin, the first Taiwanese American to play in the NBA, shared a warm pregame exchange with Golden State guard Kaitlyn Chen, the first Taiwanese American in the WNBA. The connection carried extra resonance as both are Ivy League standouts, Lin from Harvard and Chen from Princeton, and their meeting added a layer of history and pride to an already celebratory evening at Ballhalla.

Kaila Charles provided the spark stateside. Inserted into the starting lineup, Charles tied her career high with 16 points on 7-for-12 shooting, playing with relentless energy.

Nakase marveled at her conditioning and defensive intensity. “She just brings a certain type of energy, she doesn't get tired. Having someone with that type of conditioning, that’s really good, especially when we matched her up with [Sonia Citron] a high-level elite scorer in this league. That’s not an easy cover. Credit to Kaila, but it was a complete team.”

Salaün echoed her coach’s admiration, calling Charles “the perfect player that fits everywhere” and praising her ability to give “100% on defense” while seamlessly contributing on offense.

Veronica Burton also extended her own streak of consistency, finishing with 15 points while going a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. It marked her 25th double-digit scoring performance of the year, and her 35th consecutive made free throw without a miss.

Laeticia Amihere added balance inside with 11 points and six rebounds. In all, the Valkyries had five players score in double figures, the 10th time they have reached that mark this season.

Golden State’s offensive efficiency was eye-popping. The Valkyries shot a season-high 55% from the field (33-of-60), dominated the glass with a 31-20 rebounding edge, and converted 19 points off 15 Mystics turnovers.

The defense, equally impressive, kept Washington off rhythm throughout, holding the Mystics to 3-for-16 shooting in the opening quarter and forcing them into a series of empty possessions.

Washington’s top contributor, Sug Sutton, managed 17 points, while Lucy Olsen chipped in 13. No other Mystic found a consistent groove as the team dropped its sixth straight game.

For the Valkyries, the night was not only about securing a needed win but also about momentum and identity. After dropping their previous two games at home, Golden State responded with sharpness and unity on both ends of the court.

As Carla Leite put it, “We knew that this game is very important, so we had a lot of focus on that. We respected the game plan, and we shot the ball, and we played very well defensively and offensively.”

Salaün added that a win of this nature allowed others to contribute and enjoy the game: “It’s good to win in this way so like you said, we can maybe rest some players and let some players that don't get a lot of minutes usually get on the court and just join the party, in a way.”

From the raucous sellout crowd to the international stars on the floor and in the stands, the Valkyries’ 99-62 rout of Washington felt like more than just a victory. It was a statement that this expansion franchise is building a culture rooted in global talent, unrelenting defense and a connection with fans that grows stronger by the game.

With only six games remaining and the team clinging to the eighth and final playoff spot, Valkyries fans are hopeful they can maintain this momentum and sense of connectedness.

UP NEXT

• Golden State hosts the Indiana Fever tomorrow, August 31 at 5:30 p.m. PT on KPIX+, KMAX, KION, 95.7 The Game, and the Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.