Valkyries Race Out Early, Suffer First Loss of Season to Sky 69-63

SAN FRANCISCO — It’s not how you start the race, but how you finish it.

With a Race Day atmosphere electrifying Ballhalla, the Golden State Valkyries appeared to feed off the energy brought by NASCAR champion Kyle Larson, who fired up the Chase Center crowd with the ceremonial drum before tipoff. Golden State raced out to an early double-digit lead against the Chicago Sky and showcased the defensive grit that has defined the team early this season, but Chicago’s second-half surge spoiled the night in a hard-fought 69-63 battle that handed the Valkyries their first loss of 2026.

Explosive Start

Golden State came out flying in the opening quarter, racing to an 8-2 lead behind aggressive defense and sharp transition play. The Valkyries dictated the pace early, feeding off the energy of another sellout crowd of 18,063 fans, their 24th consecutive regular-season sellout.

Gabby Williams drilled a three-pointer with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter to extend the lead to 17-5, and the arena erupted moments earlier when Leticia Amihere checked into the game to thunderous applause from the home crowd.

By the end of the opening frame, the Valkyries held a commanding 19-10 advantage while Chicago shot just 25 percent from the field.

Defensive Intensity Leads to League-Low 24 first-half points for Sky

Golden State's defense remained elite throughout the first two quarters contesting everything and forcing difficult looks throughout the half.

The Valkyries held Chicago to just 24 first-half points on 10-for-37 shooting and an astonishing 0-for-11 mark from beyond the arc, the fewest points allowed in any half by a WNBA team this season.

While the Valkyries controlled much of the first half, Chicago gradually found momentum through its physical defense.

The Sky put together a 9-0 run in the second quarter to trim the deficit to 19-14 before Stokes answered with a smooth teardrop finish inside.

Offense became increasingly difficult for both teams as the game evolved into a defensive slugfest.

At one point, the teams combined to shoot just 1-for-20 from three-point range before Gabby Williams finally connected from deep late in the second quarter. By halftime, the two teams had combined to make only two three-pointers on 23 attempts.

Sky emerge in 2nd half

The third quarter saw the Chicago Sky slowly chip away at Golden State’s lead as their offense finally began to find rhythm after a frustrating first half.

While the Valkyries continued battling defensively behind Kiah Stokes’ rim protection and Gabby Williams’ energy on both ends, Chicago’s physical defense began disrupting Golden State’s offensive flow and limiting clean looks in transition.

Former Los Angeles Sparks forward, Rickea Jackson sparked the push with several aggressive drives and timely baskets, including a score at the 8:08 mark that trimmed the Valkyries’ advantage to just 32-29.

The fourth quarter turned into a heavyweight fight with momentum swinging back and forth inside a loud and energized Ballhalla crowd. Chicago eventually grabbed its first meaningful lead of the night, but the Valkyries refused to fold.

Veronica Burton delivered one of the biggest moments of the game when she buried a clutch three-pointer over the Sky's 6 foot 7 center, Kamilla Cardoso, to tie the score at 54-54, reigniting the crowd and giving Golden State life late in the contest.

However, the Sky answered with key baskets down the stretch, including a dagger three from Jackson in the closing minutes that helped create separation.

Even as the Valkyries trailed 58-54 with under four minutes remaining, the effort and defensive intensity never faded, but Chicago ultimately executed just enough late to escape Chase Center with the 69-63 win.

Kiah Stokes' Impact

Kiah Stokes anchored the defense with one of her strongest performances since joining the Valkyries. She controlled the paint, protected the rim, and altered nearly every attempt near the basket. Stokes finished with 11 rebounds, seven points, and five blocks, the highest single-game block total by any WNBA player this season.

Head coach Natalie Nakase praised the veteran center afterward, saying, “That's who she is. That's who she has been since the times I was with her in Vegas. She is a force. Her defense is top notch.”

Nakase also highlighted Stokes’ impact offensively, noting how effectively Golden State attacked Chicago’s defensive coverages to create opportunities around the rim. “So I thought she did a fantastic job on both ends, and I thought she actually brought another layer of defense that we can mix in a couple of different coverages.”

Another Solid All-Around Performance by Gabby Williams

Williams once again delivered an all-around performance for Golden State, finishing with a team-high 18 points and five rebounds while consistently creating offense in difficult situations.

After the game, a frustrated Williams credited Chicago’s defensive pressure for disrupting Golden State’s offensive rhythm. “I think they did a good job of forcing us into shots that are kind of out of our flow and out of our rhythm,” Williams said. “We only had 10 assists, I don't think we're a 10 assists only-a-game team. Some nights the shots just don't fall, but we have to do a better job of getting the shots we want."

Veronica Burton added 16 points and remained perfect at the free throw line, going 4-for-4.

Kaila Charles also provided a spark with nine points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing a double-double while bringing relentless energy on both ends of the floor.

Nakase's Defensive Team Focus

Nakase emphasized afterward that the Valkyries must continue leaning into their defensive identity moving forward. “We are a defensive team,” Nakase said. “I have to make sure that they understand who we are, and I have to maintain and punch more into our discipline and the layers of our defense.”

Team Remaining Optimistic

There was still optimism surrounding the Valkyries’ strong opening stretch to the season. Burton pointed to the growth happening within the team as they continue learning one another early in the year. “There's a lot of positives to take away,” Burton said. “I think we're still learning each other, too. It's still really early in the season.”

Despite the setback, the Golden State Valkyries leave the night with plenty of reasons to remain hopeful.

A 2-1 start to the season remains an encouraging foundation for a team still building chemistry and identity together, and the defensive intensity displayed throughout the opening weeks has already shown this group can compete with anyone in the league.

With veterans like Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, and Kiah Stokes leading the way, and with Ballhalla continuing to provide one of the best home-court environments in the WNBA, the Valkyries appear poised to keep growing as the season moves forward.

UP NEXT

• Golden State hits the road to take on New York on Thursday, May 21 at 5 p.m. PT, airing on Prime Video and The Audacy App.
• For tickets, news, and more team updates, visit valkyries.wnba.com.