Golden State Valkyries 2025 season: 23–21, scoring 77.7 points per game and allowing 76.3 (+1.4 average margin) across 44 games. Updated August 16, 2026.
Scouting report
The Valkyries finished 23–21, 8th in the league standings, with a +1.7 net rating that ranked 8th of 13. Defense was the identity — 3rd in defensive rating (99.8 per 100) against a 10th-ranked offense (101.5). They ground games down, slowest pace in the league. Their calling cards were three-point volume (12.7 makes a game, 1st) and the offensive glass (11.4 a game, 3rd); the soft spot, turnovers (18.5 a game, 3rd-most in the league). Scoring was spread around — Veronica Burton led at 11.9 a game, but no one accounted for more than 15% of the points, though the on/off numbers point to Iliana Rupert as the one they can least afford to lose — +12.7 per 100 possessions better with her on the floor. The high points: a 5-game winning streak (Aug 24–Sep 4) and a 37-point rout of the Mystics on Aug 30. The lows: a 4-game losing streak (May 27–Jun 5) and a 31-point loss at the Sun on Jul 27. They went 8–18 against teams at .500 or better. Bottom line: a middle-of-the-pack team held back by its turnover problem — good enough to beat anyone on a given night, not consistent enough to be feared.
Season summary
Record 23–21.
77.7 points scored, 76.3 allowed per game.
Net rating +1.7 per 100 possessions (offense 101.5, defense 99.8, pace 76.3).
Kayla Thornton leads the team at 14 ppg.
Kayla Thornton leads the team at 7 rpg.
Veronica Burton leads the team at 6 apg.
Recent results
W 66-58 vs NYL
W 84-80 vs DAL
L 72-78 vs MIN
L 73-74 @ SEA
L 53-72 @ MIN
Valkyries roster
Veronica Burton #22, G — 11.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6 apg in 44 games
Janelle Salaun #13, F — 11.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.2 apg in 36 games
Kayla Thornton #5, F — 14 ppg, 7 rpg, 1.5 apg in 22 games
Tiffany Hayes #15, G — 11.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3 apg in 26 games
Temi Fagbenle #14, C — 7.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.6 apg in 39 games
Carla Leite #0, G — 7.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 2 apg in 37 games
Kate Martin #20, G — 6.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1 apg in 42 games
Shot-zone charts shaded against the WNBA average, four factors versus opponents, most-used lineups by net rating, on/off player impact, and where the Valkyries rank league-wide.