Valkyries Catch Fire from Deep in Record-Breaking 95-77 Victory

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In the words of Thanos in Avengers Endgame, "Rain Fire".

That's exactly what the Golden State Valkyries did on Tuesday night, unleashing the most explosive three-point shooting performance in franchise history in a 95-77 victory over the Portland Fire.

In front of another packed house at Chase Center, the Valkyries bounced back in emphatic fashion, using a record-breaking barrage of three-pointers and relentless ball movement to secure the victory while continuing to establish Ballhalla as one of the most electric environments in the WNBA. The game marked the franchise's 30th consecutive sellout and 28th straight regular-season sellout.

Raining Fire at Ballhalla

From the opening tip, Golden State played with purpose and energy. Coming off a disappointing loss to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, the Valkyries immediately set the tone with defensive intensity, strong rebounding, and a fast-paced attack that quickly translated into open looks from beyond the arc. The result was a historic first half that left Portland scrambling to keep up.

The Valkyries connected on 12 three-pointers in the opening half, setting a new franchise record for made threes in a half and finishing just one shy of the WNBA all-time mark held by the Minnesota Lynx who knocked down 13 three-pointers in the first half against the Las Vegas Aces on August 2, 2025. Golden State’s spacing, transition offense, and willingness to share the basketball repeatedly created clean opportunities from the perimeter, and the team took full advantage.

Head Coach Natalie Nakase credited the defensive effort and work on the glass for creating those opportunities.

“I think when our defense kind of creates transition, then we can kind of flow into these open threes because it's hard to match up to us when we're maintaining space,” Nakase said. “And then also I think our offensive rebounds also generate open threes.”

Three-Point Record Falls

Golden State’s offensive fireworks continued throughout the night. By the final buzzer, the Valkyries had buried a franchise-record 18 three-pointers on 45 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Not only did that establish a new team record, but it also represented the most three-pointers made by any WNBA team this season. Remarkably, it marked the second consecutive game that Golden State shot at least 45 percent from long range.

The offensive showcase was fueled by a complete team effort. The Valkyries tied their season high with 25 assists and assisted on 16 of their 18 made three-pointers, a reflection of the unselfish style that has become a defining characteristic of the team.

Thornton Leads the Charge

Veteran forward Kayla Thornton once again provided leadership at both ends of the floor. Thornton led all scorers with 19 points while matching her season high with eight rebounds. She connected on five three-pointers and continued her recent hot shooting stretch after knocking down four threes just two days earlier against Las Vegas.

Thornton emphasized that the team’s success started on the defensive end.

“Just going in with the mindset of getting it done,” Thornton said. “We had a tough loss, so my thing was to just come in and set the tone on defense and rebounding, and that kind of leads to our offense.”

Her impact extended beyond the stat sheet, as she consistently energized teammates with hustle plays and offensive rebounds. Nakase praised Thornton’s leadership following the victory.

“KT did a hell of a job leading for offensive rebounds, but also just her fight, she just kept punching, kept punching,” Nakase said. “So I think KT did a great job leading tonight.”

Valkyries' Supporting Cast Delivers

Janelle Salaün continued her strong season with another efficient performance. The forward scored 18 points while shooting 6-for-10 from the field, helping maintain offensive pressure whenever Portland attempted to make a run.

Point guard Veronica Burton orchestrated the attack brilliantly, recording a team-high nine assists while adding 10 points. Her ability to penetrate the defense and create open opportunities was instrumental in Golden State’s perimeter success. Burton finished with a game-best plus-22 rating, underscoring her overall influence on the contest.

The Valkyries also received valuable contributions throughout the rotation. Rookie Kaitlyn Chen scored nine points and was perfect from three-point range, knocking down both of her attempts. Fellow rookie Justé Jocyté continued to gain confidence, hitting her first two three-point shots of the game and finishing with a season-high eight points.

Golden State’s offensive surge was particularly evident during a dominant second quarter in which the Valkyries poured in 35 points, the second-highest scoring quarter in franchise history. Their 56 first-half points tied for the second-most points scored in any half in team history and effectively put Portland on its heels for the remainder of the evening.

Carla "Leite Show" Returns

Tuesday's game also marked the return of former Valkyries guard Carla Leite to Chase Center. Selected by Golden State in the franchise's inaugural expansion draft before later being traded to Portland, Leite received a roaring ovation from the Ballhalla faithful during pregame introductions. The warm reception grew even louder when the Valkyries honored her with a tribute video on the videoboard, much to the delight of the sellout crowd.

More Than Just a Win

Beyond the on-court accomplishments, the victory carried additional meaning as part of the Commissioner’s Cup. The win increased Golden State’s donation total to Youth UpRising to $3,000, a cause Nakase said provides extra motivation for her team.

“When you're playing for something like that, where we can help the community, that's what we're big on,” Nakase said. “Having a why behind that, I think that generates a little bit more energy for these games.”

As impressive as the statistics were, the performance reflected something even larger, a team fully embracing its identity. Thornton pointed to the culture Nakase has established as a driving force behind the Valkyries’ success.

“She talks to us about being selfless,” Thornton said. “That's the number one thing that we kind of stand on, playing for each other.”

That selfless approach was on full display throughout the night as the Valkyries moved the ball, celebrated each other's success, and delivered a record-setting performance that had Ballhalla roaring from start to finish.

With historic shooting, balanced scoring, and a commitment to team basketball, Golden State produced one of the most memorable victories in franchise history and sent its fans home believing even bigger performances may still be ahead.

UP NEXT

• The Valkyries visit the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, June 4 at 8 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. PT, airing on Amazon Prime, 95.7 The Game and The Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.