Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen, center front, dives for the ball in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Valkyries beat Wings 84-80 to become 1st expansion team to reach playoffs in inaugural season
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season Thursday night, with Janelle Salaun scoring 19 points in an 84-80 comeback victory against the Dallas Wings for their fifth straight win.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen, center front, dives for the ball in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Dallas Wings in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season Thursday night, with Janelle Salaun scoring 19 points in an 84-80 comeback victory against the Dallas Wings for their fifth straight win.
“Let’s goooooo!” Salaun screamed into the microphone moments after the final buzzer sounded as teammates pulled on black playoff T-shirts.
Veronica Burton’s three-point play with 22.3 seconds to go and four free throws over the final 11.4 seconds helped seal it as she scored 15 points. Carla Leite also added 15.
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Monique Billings blocked a shot with 2:34 left to set up Leite’s jumper moments later before Dallas missed on the other end.
Paige Bueckers converted a three-point play with 3:34 remaining that put the Wings ahead 74-72 before the Valkyries came up with the big plays.
Salaun hit 3-pointers with 8:31 and 6:32 left, after Kate Martin’s 3 with 2:15 to go in the third got Golden State going and back within 58-52.
The Valkyries had to find a rhythm again after missing 12 of 13 shots and committing four turnovers as Dallas ended the first half on a 17-3 run for a 41-32 lead at the break.
Bueckers finished with 27 points and six assists for the Wings, who lost their ninth straight and 14th of 15.
With her first basket — an 18-foot jumper at the 8:33 mark of the opening quarter — Bueckers passed Cappie Pondexter for fifth place on the all-time rookie points list with 625.
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Dallas started the game with a 10-0 burst before Golden State delivered a 19-6 run.
The Valkyries sold out for the 21st time in as many home games — and will go for a perfect run of sellouts Saturday when Minnesota visits Chase Center.
Golden State leading scorer Tiffany Hayes missed her fifth straight game because of a left knee injury.
Up next
Dallas wraps up its road slate at Los Angeles on Sunday while the Valkyries conclude their home schedule Saturday vs. the Lynx.
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