The Golden State Valkyries snagged the team's first-ever in at home Wednesday, besting the Washington Mystics 76-74 at the Chase Center. And as postgame footage from Ballhalla showed, the team was more than ready to meet the moment: they doused a robe-clad Coach Nakase in water following the victory.
The Valkyries have fought a long battle to get to this win, hopefully the first of many to come this season. The team was announced in 2023 and Nakase was hired in October 2024, one month before the Expansion Draft that added WNBA vets Monique Billings, Tiffany Hayes, and Kayla Thornton to the squad as well as top European talent Carla Leite, Julie Vanloo, and Janelle Salaün.
Locker room was HYPE after the W in Ballhalla! pic.twitter.com/cTRnYVo8Hv
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) May 22, 2025
In a video shared by the Valkyries on X, a cautious (but excited) Nakase enters the locker room a fluffy, full-body robe, clearly braced for whatever is about to happen. The coach joked she "tried my best" to not enjoy the frenzy, but that ultimately, it was a lot of fun to celebrate with her team.
The Valkyries are on the right track, but have work to do
That stacked roster was out in full force last night. As they had during the preseason and the Valkyries' home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks, the team struggled offensively from the beginning. During their first game the Valkyries shot 25.7% from the 3, and they finished their second shooting 18.9% from the 3. But, as they have in previous games, the team rallied in the second half of the game and made a comeback in the fourth that won it all.
This echoes a lingering concern for the Valkyries — if they can find a way to get hot in the beginning and maintain that energy, they can become a major problem for the rest of the WNBA. The talent and drive t succeed are both there — the team just needs to completely tap in.
Hitting threes in the fourth completely changed the game for the Valkyries, and it's clear that the team has focused on this skill throughout the preseason. Leite, Thornton, and Veronica Burton — who finished the game with 22 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals — all put up big shots in the fourth, proof that the skill is there.
One the Valkyries fix their 3-pointer problem, we will collectively witness a brand new team — one that can hold their own against most of the top talent in the league. With this win against the Mystics, it's only up from here.