Valkyries Victorious in Season Opener

The Golden State Valkyries commenced their season with a decisive 91-80 win against the Seattle Storm on Friday night. Janelle Salaun was the standout player for the Valkyries, pouring in 20 points and sinking a career-high five three-pointers. Veronica Burton contributed 16 points, while Kaitlyn Chen added 14 points in the second half, and Kayla Thornton chipped in 13 points. Golden State established a comfortable lead by halftime, 49-41, and extended it to 69-53 by the end of the third quarter. Their effective long-range shooting was evident, with seven different players making three-pointers, resulting in a total of 15 successful shots from beyond the arc. Gabby Williams, a key offseason acquisition for Golden State, recorded seven points, six rebounds, and four assists in her return to Seattle. For the Seattle Storm, Dominique Malonga led the scoring with 21 points, supported by 15 points from Zia Cooke off the bench and 13 from Jade Melbourne. Flau'jae Johnson, the eighth overall pick in the WNBA draft, scored 12 points but shot 3 of 12 from the field. Seattle's injury woes were compounded by the news that starter Ezi Magbegor will be out for six to eight weeks with a right foot injury. The Valkyries also experienced injury concerns, with Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini leaving the game in the first half and not returning due to pinky and jaw injuries, respectively. Golden State is set to host the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday to begin their home schedule.