Chen's Career-Night Not Enough, Valkyries Historic Streak Ends at Nine

SAN FRANCISCO — The Mystics played spoiler tonight.

The Golden State Valkyries saw their franchise-record nine-game winning streak come to an end Monday night, falling 90-82 to the Washington Mystics before another sold-out crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center. Although the loss halted the longest winning streak in team history, it did little to diminish what has been an outstanding inaugural season.

Golden State battled evenly with Washington through three quarters before the Mystics used a decisive 22-5 run in the closing minutes to pull away. Even in defeat, the Valkyries once again demonstrated the resilience and balanced play that have transformed them into one of the WNBA's biggest success stories heading into the All-Star break.

Williams Honored Before Tipoff

Before the game, the organization celebrated another milestone as Gabby Williams, the first Valkyries player selected as an All-Star starter, received a surprise tribute video featuring family and loved ones. Surrounded by her teammates, Williams was presented with a framed 2026 All-Star jersey, providing another memorable moment for the young franchise.

Chen Delivers Career Night

The offensive highlight for Golden State came from second-year guard Kaitlyn Chen, who produced the best game of her young WNBA career. Coming off the bench, Chen scored a career-high 20 points while adding six assists, shooting 8-for-13 from the field and 2-for-4 from three-point range. It marked her 10th double-digit scoring performance of the season and continued her emergence as one of the Valkyries' brightest young contributors.

Head coach Natalie Nakase praised Chen's impact after the game

"She was fearless tonight. One of the best things I've noticed with Kaitlyn over these last couple games is that she really wants to make her teammates better when she's on the floor. You could feel that energy kind of go up a level. She doesn't have to start, that's not important to her. It's just the minutes that she's on the floor, she's impacting her teammates."

Veronica Burton wasn't surprised by Chen's breakout performance.

"I saw from Kaitlyn what I see every day, honestly. She's lethal. I saw it in training camp, I saw it in the off season, and her ability to score is very impressive. I think the sky's the limit for her.

Third Quarter Surge

Golden State answered one of Washington's strongest stretches with an impressive run midway through the third quarter. Kayla Thornton knocked down a pair of three-pointers during a 10-2 Valkyries run that erased a deficit and tied the game at 52-52.

Moments later, Janelle Salaün created one of the game's biggest momentum swings. After drawing a technical foul following a replay review, Salaün calmly converted the free throw before drilling a three-pointer on the next possession to give Golden State a 56-54 lead and ignite the Chase Center crowd.

Thornton continued her outstanding perimeter shooting season, finishing with 15 points while connecting on four of her seven three-point attempts. Burton added another all-around performance with 12 points and seven assists, while Salaün scored 11 points and converted all four free-throw attempts for her 18th double-digit scoring game of the year.

Defensive Pressure Keeps Valkyries Competitive

Despite the loss, Golden State excelled in several areas that have defined its recent success. The Valkyries knocked down 12 three-pointers, forced 17 Washington turnovers, recorded 10 steals, and turned those takeaways into 19 points. Four players scored in double figures as the offense once again showcased its balance.

Washington ultimately took control behind its talented young frontcourt. Kiki Iriafen led the Mystics with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Shakira Austin added 15 points and 15 rebounds. Sonia Citron contributed 17 points and six assists as Washington closed the game with its decisive fourth-quarter run.

Learning From the Loss

Afterward, Burton pointed to ball security and composure as valuable lessons moving forward.

"Yeah, that's a tough one. I think there's a lot to learn from that, and I think just taking care of the ball is a big one. Our defense just kind of folded along with it. So, that's a tough one, but it's not permanent."

Nakase echoed that message, viewing the fourth-quarter collapse as a learning opportunity.

"Usually we've been good in those situations. This is something we can definitely learn from. So being super disciplined towards the end, and then obviously trying to execute on the offensive end and not just forcing things. I think I have to do a better job of organizing and letting them know what we need down this stretch."

Chen also remained confident in the team's ability to respond.

"I feel like we've done a good job so far. I mean, you don't win that many games without handling adversity well. Today was just sort of a tough one. I think we're gonna bounce back and we're gonna be ready next game."

Looking Ahead

With the All-Star break now underway, Nakase encouraged her players to recharge while reminding the team to support Williams during the All-Star festivities.

Although the winning streak has ended, the bigger picture remains overwhelmingly positive. The Valkyries head into the break having firmly established themselves as legitimate championship contenders during an unforgettable inaugural season. With emerging young talent like Chen complementing veterans such as Thornton, Burton, and Williams, Golden State has every reason to believe this brief setback will simply become another chapter in what continues to be one of the WNBA's most remarkable seasons.

UP NEXT

• The Valkyries visit the Mercury on Wednesday, July 29, tipping off at 7 p.m. PT on USA, KPIX+, KMAX, 95.7 The Game, the Audacy App, and ESPN 1320.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.