The Valkyries Make History with Their First Win
The atmosphere at the Chase Center exploded when the final buzzer sounded. It was a landmark moment for the Golden State Valkyries, the new WNBA expansion team, who celebrated their inaugural victory.
In a tightly contested game, the Valkyries triumphed over the Washington Mystics with a score of 76-74. It was a thrilling match that saw head coach Natalie Nakase guiding her team to their first win.
One particularly inspiring aspect of this victory was that it was spearheaded by Veronica Burton, a player who had been out of the league just a year prior. Burton delivered a standout performance, scoring a team-high 22 points along with nine rebounds and five assists. She also made a crucial three-pointer with just 29 seconds left on the clock, setting personal bests in both points and rebounds.
Other contributors included Kayla Thornton with 18 points and both Carla Leite and Janelle Salaun, who chipped in with 10 apiece. The Valkyries managed to overcome Brittney Sykes’ impressive 30-point game to claim the win.
A Journey Back to the League
Burton’s path to this moment was anything but straightforward. Standing at 5’9″, she faced challenges after being released by the Dallas Wings last May. After her departure from the WNBA, she found a spot with the Connecticut Sun mid-season, where she established herself as a dependable backup point guard.
While playing overseas in Australia during the offseason, Burton received the call that she had been selected by the Valkyries in the December expansion draft. “Being part of this draft is an incredible opportunity,” she expressed shortly after her selection, emphasizing the dream of playing in the league’s first season and in the Bay Area.
Fast forward a few months, and she secured her role as the starting point guard, becoming a vital piece in the franchise’s initial success.
There were relatively low expectations for the Valkyries in their first year, given their struggles to attract top free agents, and the likelihood of their 2025 draft pick not being part of the roster. Many observers predicted they would be one of the league’s weaker teams.
However, Burton and her teammates were eager to challenge those assumptions. “We all have a chip on our shoulders. We’re ready to compete,” Burton stated back in December. “People might think it’s just about getting through this first year, but I have really high expectations for us.”
On that memorable Wednesday night in San Francisco, all the hard work and determination culminated into a moment that the fanbase had eagerly awaited.
