Returning from the FIBA break with a bang, the Golden State Valkyries defeated the Portland Fire 82-66 on Friday night at Chase Center. The Valkyries largest lead reached 26 points, assisted by a 19-6 scoring run in the second half. Tallying 14 steals and forcing a season-high 22 turnovers, the Valkyries held the Fire to their lowest scoring output of the season.
Veronica Burton tallied six steals, a career-high and most by any player in team history. Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere led the offense as each player scored 17 points and shot 60% from the field. A total of four Valkyries recorded double figures including Tiffany Hayes (13) and Kayla Thornton (13). Hayes also led the team with a season-high seven assists.
Highlights: Golden State Valkyries 82 - Portland Fire 66 | 9/18/26
SECOND QUARTER SHIFT
After trailing by one point to start the second frame, the Valkyries worked their way to a 21-10 scoring run, with the largest advantage reaching 13 points. Laeticia Amihere led the scoring with six points during that span and shooting 3-for-4 from the field.
As a team, the Valkyries recorded six steals from five different players in the quarter with Tiffany Hayes tallying a pair.
CHEN FROM BEYOND THE ARC
Kaitlyn Chen caught fire from the 3-point line, recording a new career-high of five 3-pointers made. Chen was highly impactful coming off the bench finishing a plus-20 in 25 minutes.
Kaitlyn Chen Records 17 Points vs. Portland Fire - 9/18/26
AMIHERE CAREER NIGHT
Laeticia Amihere set a new career-high of 17 points, marking her fifth time this season reaching double figures. Showing off her versatility, Amihere recorded a pair of three-pointers, tying her season-high. A consistent force on defense, Amihere came through with a big time block in the final minutes of the game for a roaring Ballhalla.
Laeticia Amihere With A Big Time Block vs. Portland Fire - 9/18/26
JOCYTĖ'S SHARP SHOOTING LEADS TO CAREER HIGH
Justė Jocytė entered the game late in the first quarter and within three minutes she assisted a 3-pointer from Chen before draining a triple of her own with 11.6 seconds left on the clock. She went on to record a career-high nine points, all coming from beyond the arc, shooting 3-for-6 from the field.
Natalie Nakase Postgame Press Conference | 9/18/26
Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere Postgame Press Conference | 9/18/26
UP NEXT
The Valkyries are back in action for the second of back-to-back matchups at Chase Center when they face Seattle Storm on Saturday, Sept. 19 for the final home game of the regular season (6 p.m. PT; Prime Video).
BY THE NUMBERS
- The Valkyries drew a sold-out crowd of 18,064, the team’s 43rd consecutive regular-season sellout.
- Laeticia Amihere scored a career-high 17 points, shooting 60 percent (6-10) from the field and 2-4 (50 percent) from three, adding four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks.
- Kaitlyn Chen added 17 points with a career-high five made threes while also adding three assists and one block.
- Veronica Burton recorded a career-high six steals, the most by a player in Valkyries history and the second most by a WNBA player this season. Burton finished with four points, four rebounds, three assists, six steals, and one block in 25 minutes.
- Justė Jocytė finished with a career-high nine points on 3-6 shooting, all made threes, with two rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
- Tiffany Hayes recorded 13 points, a season-high seven assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
- Kayla Thornton finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three made threes.
- Kiah Stokes led Golden State in rebounding with nine and added two blocks.
- Kaila Charles contributed seven points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
- Golden State held Portland to 66 points, becoming the first WNBA team since the Connecticut Sun in 2021 to hold its opponents to 70 points or fewer in five straight games.
- The Valkyries forced 22 turnovers which tied a season high, 17 points off turnovers.
- The league leader in bench points per game, Golden State tallied 43 bench points on Friday night, the 16th time this season the Valkyries have gotten 40 or more points from the bench. Golden State is 12-4 when getting 40-or-more bench points in a game this year.
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