Golden State Valkyries’ Stephanie Talbot has her three-point shot blocked by Washington Mystics’ Emily Engstler during a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Former Stanford women’s basketball head coach Tara VanDerveer hits the GSV drum before the Golden State Valkyries play the Washington Mystics in a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Washington Mystics’ Brittney Sykes collides with Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle as Janelle Salaun watches during a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Veronica Burton scores 22 to lead Valkyries to expansion franchise’s first win, 76-74 over Mystics
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Veronica Burton made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining, another with 29 seconds left on the way to 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists, leading the Golden State Valkyries to the expansion franchise’s first victory with a 76-74 win against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night.
Golden State Valkyries’ Stephanie Talbot has her three-point shot blocked by Washington Mystics’ Emily Engstler during a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Veronica Burton made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining, another with 29 seconds left on the way to 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists, leading the Golden State Valkyries to the expansion franchise’s first victory with a 76-74 win against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night.
Kayla Thornton converted a four-point play with 1:03 left and scored 18 points for the Valkyries, cheered on by a dancing Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski among the raucous sellout crowd. Streamers rained down after the final buzzer sounded.
Sonia Citron’s 3 for Washington with 5 seconds left made it interesting.
Brittney Sykes scored 30 points and converted two free throws with 1:58 to play to put Washington ahead but the Valkyries knocked down all the big shots in the closing minutes after losing guard Tiffany Hayes to a nose injury late in the first half.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Burton banked in a Stephen Curry-like long 3-pointer to beat the halftime horn and put Golden State ahead 31-30 at the break.
Janelle Salaun scored 10 points and grabbed a key rebound in the waning moments while for Beretta Famila Schio. Her 3-pointer with 2:07 in the first half was the team’s first after 17 misses from deep to start the game.
late in the second quarter and didn’t return after taking an arm to the face from Washington’s Shakira Austin and going down for several minutes.
She gave a thumbs up after she was helped off the court and went to the locker room with a towel pressed to her face.
Golden State, and playing at Chase Center that’s also home to the NBA Warriors, finished just 7 of 37 from long range.
Up next
Washington visits the Las Vegas Aces on Friday. The Valkyries begin their inaugural three-game road trip beginning Friday at the Los Angeles Sparks, last Friday.
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