The Golden State Valkyries are doing what few thought possible for a first-year WNBA expansion team: winning.
Rather than struggling through a traditional rebuild, the league’s 13th franchise is making history. Golden State has sold out every home game and currently leads the WNBA in attendance. With one of the top five defenses in the league, the Valkyries recently became just the third expansion team to reach 10 wins within 20 games — joining Minnesota (1999) and Detroit (1998). The team is on track to possibly become the first expansion club to make the playoffs in its inaugural season.
Much of that success comes from its balanced roster: three rookies and six veterans with at least three years of WNBA experience, five of whom have appeared in over 100 career games.
Golden State may be setting a new blueprint for future expansion teams.
“I think the main thing is just that we play for each other,” said forward Kayla Thornton, speaking to the MSR during All-Star Weekend. Thornton, a 10-year WNBA veteran, was the franchise’s first-ever All-Star selection. In her All-Star Game debut, she finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and two four-pointers — becoming just the fourth player in league history to record such stats in a single ASG.
Selected by Golden State in the expansion draft from New York, Thornton joined the Valkyries after helping the Liberty capture the 2024 WNBA championship. She transitioned from a key reserve to a full-time starter and made an immediate impact. Thornton and teammate Veronica Burton are among six Valkyries players to record double-doubles this season — more than any other WNBA team. Thornton notched her 15th double-double on July 5 against the Lynx (13 points, 10 rebounds) and was named Western Conference Player of the Week in Week 4.
“I just kind of stay the course God has for me,” Thornton said.
Unfortunately, her season came to an early end last week when she suffered a right knee injury during practice. The team announced she underwent successful surgery and will miss the rest of the season. She finishes the year averaging 14 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 22 games.
Burton, a 5-9 point guard selected from Dallas in the expansion draft, is also having a breakout year. She ranks fifth all-time in WNBA history in free throw percentage (.877) among players with at least 100 attempts and is the only player this season with multiple 10-assist, zero-turnover games — coming against Las Vegas and New York.
“I’m grateful for my team here and my coaching staff,” said Burton, a fourth-year pro out of Northwestern. “They value each and every player. Whoever walks into our locker room is put in a position to succeed and use their skill set.”
Thornton praised Burton’s leadership: “She’s really flourishing in her role. Her point guard abilities to make plays for us… I’m just proud of her because she’s taking that leadership and building each and every day.”
“Basketball is a team sport, and the trust aspect is there,” added Burton. “We play together as a team, and that really shows on the court. When you trust your teammates, you play with full effort.”
Burton said her goal is to remain steady under pressure. “Consistency is a big thing. The more consistent I can be as a point guard, it benefits everyone. That’s a goal for me, to continue to grow in my consistency.”
Charles Hallman is a longtime sports columnist of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder