Janelle Salaun delivered 20 points and matched her career high with five 3-pointers, leading the Golden State Valkyries to a 91-80 season-opening victory over the Seattle Storm on Friday night.
Veronica Burton contributed 16 points, while Kaitlyn Chen scored all 14 of her points in the second half and Kayla Thornton added 13 for Golden State. The Valkyries held a 49-41 lead at halftime and extended it to 69-53 after three quarters. Seven different players made a 3-pointer, and the team finished 15-of-37 from beyond the arc.
Gabby Williams, Golden State’s key offseason addition, returned to Seattle—where she played from 2022 to 2025—and recorded seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. Dominique Malonga led the Storm with 21 points, Zia Cooke chipped in 15 off the bench, Jade Melbourne scored 13, and Flau’jae Johnson, the eighth overall pick in the WNBA draft, had 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
Seattle is expected to be without starter Ezi Magbegor for six to eight weeks due to a right foot injury. Golden State also dealt with early injuries: Tiffany Hayes left the first quarter with a left pinky issue, and Cecilia Zandalasini sustained a jaw injury in the second quarter, with neither returning to the game.
Golden State’s home opener is Sunday against Phoenix, while Seattle travels to face Connecticut on the same day.
