The Golden State Valkyries have the longest active winning streak in the WNBA and extended it to five games with a 62-49 victory over the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena on Monday. The Valkyries held the Mystics to just 49 points in the win, the lowest point total by a WNBA team this season. Golden State allowed just 16 points in the second half, marking the first time a WNBA team has accomplished this feat since 2021. The Valkyries overcame their lowest-scoring first quarter of the season by holding Washington to single digits in both the third and fourth quarters. The Mystics were held to just 30 percent from the field (18/60 FG) and 12.5 percent from three (3/24 3PT) by one of the WNBA's top-rated defenses.
"We've been talking a lot about our defense and how we have to rely on our defense every night and in the second half we locked in on the game plan," Head Coach Natalie Nakase said.
“Our defense is something that's all effort and sort of a mental thing, so it's something that you can control and we take pride in our defense," Kaitlyn Chen said. "It's something that we put all our focus into every game and if we can't score, they can't score.”
Highlights: Golden State Valkyries 62 - Washington Mystics 49 | 7/6/26
VALKYRIES OVERCOME LOWEST-SCORING FIRST QUARTER OF SEASON
The Valkyries had their lowest-scoring opening quarter in a game this season, scoring just 11 points in the first quarter. The Valkyries shot just 4-for-17 from the field and 1-for-7 from behind the arc in the frame. However, they trailed by only four after the first quarter, largely thanks to their defense, which forced five turnovers and held Washington without a made 3-pointer (0/6 3PT). Golden State overcame its first-quarter struggles by scoring nine straight points to begin the second quarter, including a put-back by Kaila Charles, a lefty scoop layup from Kaitlyn Chen, a pull-up mid-range jumper from Tiffany Hayes and a 3-pointer by Janelle Salaün.
GOLDEN STATE’S SECOND-HALF RUNS BREAK THE GAME OPEN
The Valkyries scored the first seven points and the final seven points of the third quarter and outscored the Mystics 19-7 in the quarter to take a double-digit lead. Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes each made two field goals in the quarter, combining to make more shots than Washington did in the period, as the Mystics shot just 3-for-16 from the floor. Ending the frame on a 7-0 run, the Valkyries scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to expand their lead to as many as 15 points.
Natalie Nakase Postgame Press Conference | 7/6/26
Kaitlyn Chen and Kaila Charles Postgame Press Conference | 7/6/26
CHEN THE GAME'S LEADING SCORER FOR THE FIRST TIME
Kaitlyn Chen led all scorers with 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting, while also dishing out a game-high four assists. Chen was the only Valkyrie to score in double figures, while six other Valkyries tallied at least six points. Monday’s game marked the first time in Chen’s WNBA career that she has been the leading scorer.
Kaitlyn Chen Leads Valkyries in Points and Assists vs. Washington Mystics - 7/6/26
UP NEXT
The Valkyries continue their road trip in Toronto, facing the Tempo, one of the WNBA’s new expansion teams, for the first time in franchise history.
MORE NOTABLES:
- The win is Golden State’s fifth straight, tied for the longest-ever winning streak in franchise history (GSV won five straight from 8/24-9/4 last season). The Valkyries improve to 5-0 all-time against Washington.
- The Valkyries are one of three teams in the WNBA with 15 wins on the year.
- The 49 points allowed are not only a franchise record, but the fewest allowed in the WNBA this season. The Valkyries also held Washington to just 3-24 (12.5 percent) from three, the lowest percentage allowed by Golden State all-time.
- The Valkyries limited the Mystics to just 16 second-half points, becoming the first team since September 2, 2021 (Los Angeles at Minnesota) to allow 16 or fewer points in any half. Washington shot just 16.1 percent (5-31) and 9.1 percent (1-11) from three in the final 20 minutes.
- The Golden State bench scored 20 first-half points and 39 in the game, led by Kaitlyn Chen’s game-high 14 points on 6-9 (66.7 percent) shooting. Chen also handed out a team-best four assists.
- Kaila Charles, who played collegiately at nearby Maryland, added eight points and five rebounds.
- Tiffany Hayes scored nine points, while Janelle Salaün scored eight and had a pair of big three pointers.
- Kiah Stokes had nine rebounds, all on the defensive end, and scored six points to go with three blocks.
- The Valkyries recorded 10 steals compared to the Mystics’ one, with Laeticia Amihere, Veronica Burton, and Gabby Williams each grabbing two.
- The Valkyries held the Mystics to just seven points in the third quarter, tied for the fewest allowed in any quarter by Golden State this season. Washington shot just 18.8 percent (3-16) including 1-7 (14.3 percent) from three in the frame.
- Golden State forced 17 Washington turnovers, converting them into 14 points off turnovers, while only committing a season-low six turnovers.
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