Veronica Burton scores 22 to lead Valkyries to expansion franchise's first win, 76-74 over Mystics

Golden State Valkyries secured their first victory as an expansion franchise with a 76-74 win against the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night. Veronica Burton starred with 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, hitting decisive 3-pointers at 1:38 and 29 seconds remaining to seal the win.

Kayla Thornton contributed 18 points, including a crucial four-point play with 1:03 left, as the Valkyries rallied in front of a sellout crowd. Despite Washington’s Brittney Sykes scoring 30 points and briefly taking the lead late, Golden State’s clutch shooting prevailed. Sonia Citron’s last-second 3-pointer narrowed the gap but fell short.

The Valkyries faced adversity when guard Tiffany Hayes exited late in the first half with a nose injury after colliding with Shakira Austin. Burton’s halftime buzzer-beating 3-pointer, reminiscent of Stephen Curry, gave Golden State a 31-30 lead. Rookie Janelle Salaun added 10 points and a critical rebound in her WNBA debut, hitting the team’s first 3-pointer after an 0-for-17 start.

Golden State struggled from long range, finishing 7-of-37, but secured the win at Chase Center, their shared home with the NBA Warriors. Up next, Washington visits the Las Vegas Aces, while the Valkyries begin a three-game road trip against the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday.