Golden State Valkyries climb to second place, become WNBA championship contenders

The Golden State Valkyries sit second in the WNBA with a 19‑8 record, just half a game behind the Las Vegas Aces and 2.5 games off the league‑leading Minnesota Lynx. Coach Natalie Nakase has been praised for maximizing the roster, earning talk of Coach of the Year, while guard Gabby Williams leads the team with 14.8 points per game and contributes on both ends of the court. The Valkyries also field the league’s top reserve scoring unit and a defense that holds opponents to 78.6 points per game.

In the second‑round playoff series, the seventh‑seed Seattle Storm faced the second‑seed Las Vegas Aces, while four Valkyries players posted double‑digit points: Monique Billings (15), Kayla McBride (18), Bridget Carleton (12) and DiJonai Carrington (11 off the bench). Minnesota Lynx players also recorded double figures, with Napheesa Collier scoring 24.

These performances highlight the Valkyries’ ascent as legitimate championship contenders in the league’s mid‑season stretch.