By William Armstead –
The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 21st, 2025, by a score of 76-74 at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The Valkyries had four different players scoring double figures, notching their first win of the new WNBA season and of the new franchise.
The game was extremely close throughout all four quarters, with no team jumping out to a huge lead at any point in the game. The Valkyries were led by guard Veronica Burton, who scored 22 points on 6-11 shooting and also knocked down three shots from beyond the arc. One more rebound would have given her a double-double. Burton hit a long off the backboard to beat the buzzer at halftime to put the Valkyries up one point at the break. Forward for the Valkyries, Kayla Thornton also had a huge day, contributing 18 points and converting a four-point play with 1:03 left in regulation. The other two players in double figures for the Valkyries, Janelle Salaun and Carla Leite, each scored 10 points. Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes went down with a face injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Mystics guard, Brittany Sykes, went off for 30 points but was not enough to come out with the win. Sykes had help from teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, who each had 10 points.
The Mystics will go on the road to face the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, and the Valkyries will begin their three-game road trip on Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Sports Insider Daily 