SAN FRANCISCO — With poise, precision, and purple fire in their veins, the Golden State Valkyries secured their third straight victory, continuing their climb up the WNBA standings by locking in a gritty 73–66 win over the depleted Chicago Sky on Friday night at Chase Center. This marked yet another consecutive win for the Valkyries, and the Valkyries Win Third Straight speaks to their determination.
Veronica Burton was the heartbeat of the night — delivering an ice-cold dagger from deep with 0.4 seconds left in the third quarter to swing the momentum entirely Valkyrie. She finished with 18 points, four of them coming in the final 35 seconds when it mattered most. Clutch queen? Confirmed.
Janelle Salaün added 16 points, showing off her growing confidence with every shot, while Iliana Rupert brought the fire from France, draining four triples and finishing with 14. Her smooth range was a game-changer. Carla Leite added another 11 points in a full-team effort that speaks to the depth of this Golden State roster, contributing to the Valkyries’ third straight victory.
The Valkyries, now 14–13, caught fire late — roaring into the fourth with a 12–2 burst that broke the Sky’s resistance and flipped the scoreboard. Indeed, Valkyries Win Third Straight demonstrates their resilience. The Sky made one final push, trimming the lead to 67–66 with 2:23 to go… but that was it. The door slammed shut.
Burton went full closer mode. Four straight free throws. Lights out.
On the other end, Chicago — missing stars Angel Reese, Ariel Atkins, and Hailey Van Lith — fought valiantly. Elizabeth Williams and Kamilla Cardoso combined for 29 points and 19 rebounds, but ran out of steam when it mattered most.
The Valkyries were nearly automatic from the line (15-of-16 FT), and while they only hit 10 of 30 from deep, they did it when it counted. That’s what playoff teams do. Importantly, it’s crucial to note that this was indeed the Valkyries Win Third Straight.
Injury updates: Monique Billings (ankle) will be re-evaluated in three weeks. Cecilia Zandalasini, fresh off a career-high 18 on Tuesday, sat this one out.
💬 Postgame Vibes:
“Burton just turned the whole arena into a freezer with that buzzer-beater,” a fan in Section 120 yelled. “That’s VALKYRIE basketball. Ice in the veins. Steel in the spine.”
⚔️ Up Next:
The Valkyries look to make it four straight as they continue their playoff push. After this game, where the Valkyries Win Third Straight, the next stop is Connecticut.
