The Golden State Valkyries continued a breakout season Friday night, beating the Connecticut Sun 79-64 to become the quickest WNBA expansion franchise to reach 40 wins. The victory, at Mohegan Sun Arena, extended Golden State’s franchise-record winning streak to seven games.
What this means for local fans
The Sun fell to 5-18 with the loss and are dealing with injuries to key players. Connecticut was without center Brittney Griner for the second straight game because of a quad strain, and Golden State was missing All-Star forward Gabby Williams, who was ruled out before tipoff with a back issue after leaving in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s win in Toronto.
Golden State’s defense eventually took control after an early Connecticut run. The Sun jumped to a 9-2 start and carried a lead into the second quarter, but the Valkyries closed the half on top, 30-25.
Key players and performance
Veronica Burton, facing her former team, finished with a strong all-around line: 17 points, six assists, three rebounds, two blocks and a steal. Burton’s play helped Golden State build a 54-44 cushion at the end of the third quarter. Kaila Charles’ drive produced the visitors’ first lead, 24-23, and she later connected on a 3-pointer during the fourth-quarter run.
The Valkyries’ bench supplied a season-high-impact performance, outscoring the Sun’s reserves and contributing 42 points—about seven points above their league-high season average. Janelle Salaun led the reserves with 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Laeticia Amihere added six points, five rebounds, three blocks and three assists.
| Team | Score | Record (season) |
|---|---|---|
| Golden State Valkyries | 79 | 40 wins in 68 franchise games (fastest expansion team to 40) |
| Connecticut Sun | 64 | 5-18 |
Notable trends
- Golden State is currently on a seven-game winning streak and has started the first four games of a five-city road trip with victories.
- The Valkyries are undefeated this season in games where their point guard records at least six assists.
- Connecticut is coping with injuries to major contributors, including Brittney Griner (quad strain).
Connecticut kept the margin within single digits for much of the third quarter, but Golden State sealed the game with a late third-quarter score by Burton and consecutive 3-pointers in the fourth that pushed the lead to 60-44 with 7:19 remaining.
The Valkyries needed just 68 games across two seasons to reach 40 wins, setting a new standard for WNBA expansion teams. The franchise now heads to Indiana to complete its current road trip midweek.
Sports fans in Connecticut will be watching whether the Sun can steady the roster as injuries mount and whether the Valkyries sustain their rapid climb among the league’s contenders.
