Valkyries Push Mercury to the Limit, Lose 78-77 Thriller

SAN FRANCISCO — The older generation never dreamed that woman's basketball could reach such heights of excitement and popularity.

The Golden State Valkyries nearly pulled off another electrifying home win in front of their 11th consecutive sellout crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center, but a questionable foul call with one second left sent Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas to the line, where she hit the second of two free throws to hand the Valkyries a heartbreaking 78-77 loss.

Yet in a game that captured the spirit of this expansion franchise, the Valkyries showed their fight, resilience, and relentless execution under pressure, qualities that surely resonated with the special guests in attendance.

Former players from the Women’s Professional Basketball League, the nation’s first women’s pro league, were honored courtside, and they were given a treat by the fierce, high-level basketball on display. The evolution of the women’s game, its athleticism, pace, and precision, must have exceeded even their expectations as they witnessed a packed arena roaring for a team that has quickly earned the Bay Area’s devotion.

Tiffany Hayes, reflecting on the moment, shared, “They shared a little bit of their story so that was dope. That was a highlight for today.” The pioneers’ presence was a reminder of how far the game has come and how nights like this are built on the foundation they laid decades ago.

On the court, Phoenix came out hot racing to an early 12-2 lead by pressuring the rim in transition and forcing tough shots, while DeWanna Bonner and Thomas pushed the pace with precise passing.

But the Valkyries answered with resilience, storming back with an 18-1 run fueled by Tiffany Hayes’ sharp shooting and Cecilia Zandalasini finding gaps in the defense, taking a 20-13 lead late in the first quarter as “Ballhalla” came alive.

The Mercury’s offense, which stalled during a six-minute field goal drought, managed a Kathryn Westbeld three-pointer to keep within striking distance, but the Valkyries had flipped momentum entirely by the end of the period.

The second quarter saw Phoenix climb back, even while missing top scorers Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally. Bonner found her rhythm with a corner three and transition layups, while the Mercury’s defense tightened to hold Golden State to a cold shooting stretch, turning defense into offense with 17 of their first 32 points coming in transition.

Despite shooting just 39%, the Mercury carried a 36-32 lead into halftime, with the Valkyries’ hustle on the glass and low turnovers keeping them in the fight.

The game’s environment was made even more meaningful as players from the first women’s basketball league attended, a moment Tiffany Hayes described as a highlight: “They shared a little bit of their story so that was dope. That was a highlight for today.”

The Valkyries honored the pioneers while looking to write their own chapter, and came out of the locker room determined to seize control.

Veronica Burton took over stretches of the third quarter, dropping eight of her 17 points while orchestrating the offense and keeping the Valkyries within striking distance as Bonner’s perfect 6-for-6 shooting propelled Phoenix to a narrow 59-58 lead heading into the fourth.

A Monique Billings corner three ignited the Chase Center midway through the third, with Coach Natalie Nakase praising her effort: “Her effort, her rim protection, her rebounding, her tenacity. Mo just kept moving, moving, moving… we needed that tonight.”

The fourth quarter turned into a tense shootout, with Hayes tying the game at 61 on a deep three and Kayla Thornton drilling another triple to give the Valkyries a 64-61 lead with under six minutes to play.

Both teams traded defensive stops and big shots, with Phoenix momentarily going four minutes without a field goal before Thomas broke the drought with her signature lefty layup.

Bonner’s reverse layup gave the Mercury a 75-72 lead with 51.8 seconds left, but the Valkyries refused to fold.

After a missed three, Janelle Salaün delivered in the clutch, first with a contested three-pointer with 10.3 seconds left to bring the Valkyries within one, and then with a tough baseline jumper with 6.8 seconds remaining to tie the game at 77.

It was then that the controversial moment arrived, as Thomas drove to the basket and drew a foul with one second on the clock, a call that left Valkyries fans and Coach Nakase frustrated. Thomas missed the first but got the second to roll in for the lead, leaving Golden State with only a desperate full-court heave that fell short.

“I said I was so proud. The execution down the stretch, the fight, how hard we played… I really believe that,” Nakase said postgame. “It’s just, again, unfortunate that they get to win a game off of a free throw. With no defense, that’s tough.”

Despite the result, the Valkyries played one of their most complete games of the season. They hit a season-high 14 three-pointers on 42.4% shooting from deep, with Hayes going 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and Burton knocking down four threes of her own while also going a perfect 3-for-3 from the line.

Salaün scored 12 points, including the team’s last eight, while Billings posted a +21 plus/minus alongside nine points and nine rebounds. The Valkyries also tied a season low with just nine turnovers, showcasing their growth under pressure.

As the Valkyries continue to build their identity in their inaugural season, they are showing the toughness, composure, and belief that once only lived as a dream for those who built the women’s game from the ground up.

On a night that honored the pioneers of the Women’s Professional Basketball League, the Valkyries proved again that the foundation laid decades ago has grown into a thriving, high-level spectacle, with Golden State embodying that evolution every time they step onto the floor.

UP NEXT

• The Valkyries close out the first half of the season versus the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, July 16 at 12 p.m. on  KPIX+, KMAX, and the Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.
• For more information about the Women’s Professional Basketball League (WBL), the 1st viable women’s professional basketball league in the U.S., please visit legendsoftheballinc.org.