Janelle Salaun came off the bench to score 21 points, leading the Golden State Valkyries to a dominant 95-79 victory over the Phoenix Mercury in their home opener on Sunday night. The win marked a special moment for the second-year expansion team, which made history last season by becoming the first franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year.
All-Star forward Gabby Williams, who signed with the team last month, made a memorable home debut with 19 points and five rebounds. Kayla Thornton also added 19 points, while Veronica Burton posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists. The Valkyries' depth was on full display, showcasing the kind of balanced attack that helped them push top-seeded Minnesota to the brink in last year's playoffs.
The Mercury, playing their second game in as many nights, got a triple-double threat from Alyssa Thomas, who finished with 19 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds. Phoenix came in riding high after a historic 99-66 rout of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on Saturday—the largest road win in franchise history—but couldn't sustain that momentum against a fired-up Golden State squad.
The game featured a dramatic shift in momentum. After Phoenix jumped out to a 7-0 lead, the Valkyries responded with a 21-6 run in the second quarter to take control, eventually building a 48-31 halftime advantage. The Mercury made a push in the fourth quarter, with Kiana Williams hitting a three-pointer to cut the lead to 73-70 with just over eight minutes left. But Salaun answered with three free throws and a layup on consecutive possessions, pushing the lead back to 83-70 and delighting a sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center.
Salaun was nearly perfect from the floor, shooting 7-of-9 and making all four of her three-point attempts. Her performance was especially crucial given that Golden State was missing Tiffany Hayes (left pinky injury) and Cecilia Zandalasini (concussion).
Before tipoff, the atmosphere was electric as Veronica Burton addressed the crowd, referring to the arena as "Ballhalla"—a nod to Norse mythology, where Valkyries guide the souls of slain warriors. The Valkyries sold out all 22 of their home games last season, and the energy in the building suggests they'll do the same this year.
The Mercury will look to bounce back when they host the Lynx in their home opener on Tuesday night.