Valkyries' Third Straight Win
Golden State Valkyries Extend Win Streak to Three, Defeating Sparks 78-58
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The Golden State Valkyries dominated the Los Angeles Sparks 78-58 at Chase Center on Sunday, winning their third straight game in wire-to-wire fashion. Gabby Williams led the way with 16 points, while Kaila Charles came off the bench to add 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, per AP News.
The Valkyries never trailed. They opened with an 8-0 run and led 45-26 at halftime. The sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center also gave a standing ovation to one familiar face — former Valkyrie Kate Martin, returning for the first time since being waived earlier this season.
Kaila Charles and Veronica Burton Spark Early Blowout
Charles scored the final seven points of the first half, turning a comfortable lead into a rout, according to Newsday. She was the engine off the bench, finishing with one of the most complete stat lines of the night. Guard Veronica Burton added 12 points and hit her own milestone during the game — her 1,000th career point, making her the first Valkyrie ever to reach that mark, per Valkyries.com.
Coach Natalie Nakase credited the defense for driving the win. "When we say we rely on our defense, that's how we rely on our defense, and we close with our defense," she said, per WNBA.com. The Valkyries held the Sparks to just 10 points in the first quarter — two points shy of a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a quarter.
Sparks' Star Scorers Go Cold Against Stifling Defense
The Valkyries' defense shut down two of the Sparks' biggest weapons. Kelsey Plum, the WNBA's second-leading scorer, managed just 9 points on 3-for-10 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike was equally quiet, going 3-for-9 for 9 points, per CBS Sports. Los Angeles shot just 33.3% from the field overall and went 3-for-21 from three-point range — a miserable 14.2%.
The Sparks' bench could not make up the difference either. Golden State outscored Los Angeles' bench 30-21, per AP News. Rae Burrell led the Sparks with 13 points. The Valkyries also outscored the Sparks 36-to-nothing in points in the paint, per Newsday, showing just how badly LA struggled to get to the rim.
Kate Martin Gets a Hero's Welcome at Chase Center
The emotional highlight of the night had nothing to do with the score. Kate Martin, the former Valkyrie who was waived in May 2026 and then signed by the Sparks, walked into Chase Center as a visitor for the first time. The crowd gave her a standing ovation and a video tribute, per AP News. Martin finished with just 3 points in 11 minutes, but the moment clearly meant more than the box score.
Martin's move to Los Angeles came through the WNBA's new "developmental contracts," a tool introduced in the league's latest Collective Bargaining Agreement. These contracts allow teams to sign players to lower-cost deals. Her return added a personal storyline to what was already a heated California rivalry.
Valkyries Keep Commissioner's Cup Hopes Alive
The win has bigger implications than just the standings. Golden State improved to 9-5 overall and 4-2 in Commissioner's Cup play, per WNBA.com. The Cup is a mid-season tournament with real prize money. The Valkyries remain in the hunt to represent the Western Conference in the Cup Finals, though they trail the Las Vegas Aces and Minnesota Lynx.
Off the court, the Valkyries' growth has been staggering. The team is now valued at roughly $1 billion — up from the $50 million expansion fee paid just two years ago, per Sportico. The WNBA also signed an $850 million media rights deal starting in 2026, tripling the previous deal. The Valkyries next host the Dallas Wings, while the Sparks travel to face the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday.
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