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WNBA action has officially hit the court at Chase Center.
The Golden State Valkyries played their first game as a WNBA franchise Friday night in a 71-62 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks. While it wasn’t a winning effort, it was safe to say the crowd was entertained.
The Valkyries are the first WNBA expansion team since the Atlanta Dream in 2008. They are the first of three expansion teams that will enter the league in the next few seasons and Friday’s game did not disappoint the eager crowd.
The Valkyries remained competitive throughout the game and even led after the opening quarter. However, it was an experienced Sparks team led by new acquisition Kelsey Plum who were ready to take the victory.
Plum became the first player in league history to score 35 points and add five assists and five steals in a single game. She finished with 37 points, six assists, added two rebounds and was a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line.
The Sparks also got 14 points and 10 rebounds from Dearica Hamby, 13 points, five rebounds and three assists from Rickea Jackson and 11 points, five rebounds and four steals from Azura Stevens.
Kayla Thornton scored the Valkyries first point in franchise history. Tiffany Hayes would lead the team with 19 points while Temi Fagbenle had 15 and Julie Vanloo had 14 off of the bench.
This breaks the seal for the Valkyries franchise and they will now look for their first win. The Dream went 4-30 in their first season and Golden State will hope to put forward a better effort than that team did.
The next game for the Valkyries will come on Wednesday against the Washington Mystics.
