The Golden State Valkyries finished the 2026 regular season by completing the largest comeback in franchise history, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. With the win, the Valkyries secured the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs and will host the Dallas Wings in the first round.
The Valkyries trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, and by 12 points with under four minutes to go in regulation, but Gabby Williams and Kaitlyn Chen propelled the Valkyries to victory in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 71-59, the Valkyries went on a 17-1 run to turn a 12-point deficit into a four-point lead in the game's final seconds. The Valkyries held the Sparks offense without a field goal for over 4.5 minutes, while Gabby Williams and Kaitlyn Chen rattled off 18 consecutive points from the Valkyries in the final frame.
"I feel like our fight was there tonight, and that's something we're gonna need in the playoff," Kaitlyn Chen said postgame. "I thought we did a great job of just sticking with it, and we knew we weren't gonna win it [with] one miraculous play. So we sort of just took it one play at a time. We really fought hard tonight, and we're definitely going to need that in the playoffs.”
Highlights: Golden State Valkyries 76 - Los Angeles Sparks 75 | 9/24/26
GABBY STARTS, GABBY CLOSES
Gabby Williams was able to get to the rim early and often scoring six of the team's first eight points in the game's opening minutes.
After being held scoreless in the middle two frames, Williams scored eight straight points in the fourth quarter, including her clutch 3-pointers that gave the Valkyries the lead with 20.4 seconds remaining.
Gabby Williams Takes Over in Fourth Quarter vs. Los Angeles Sparks - 9/24/26
CHEN'S SECOND HALF
Kaitlyn Chen was able to create whatever shot she wanted in the second half, scoring 18 points in the final two frames, including a 14-point fourth quarter. Chen got to the rim at ease and was an extremely efficient 6-for-9 from the field in the fourth quarter.
“It starts with my teammates," Chen said postgame. "It's V [Veronica Burton] telling me that I can score when I want. I feel like that's the kind of confidence that I need, and just seeing a few go in always helps.”
Kaitlyn Chen Scores 18 Points in Second Half vs. Los Angeles Sparks - 9/24/26
OGWUMIKE'S FAREWELL
Thursday night also marked the final game for Nneka Ogwumike, who completed one of the most decorated careers in WNBA history. Ogwumike was an 11-time All-Star, former MVP, WNBA Champion, the first pick of the 2012 draft, President of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association amongst many other accolades. She finished her 15-year career ranking in the top on the all-time rebounds list (3rd), scoring list (4th) and steals list (4th).
GUEYE DEBUTS
Aminata Gueye, who signed with the Valkyries on Sunday, made her WNBA debut on Thursday, entering the contest last in the third quarter.
REGULAR SEASON COMPLETE
After setting a WNBA record for most wins by an expansion team and becoming the first-ever expansion team to reach the postseason during its inaugural season in 2025, the Valkyries upped their win total by 9 games in 2026, finishing the regular season with a 32-12 record, clinching the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
AVAILABLE FOR ALL 44
For the second straight season, Veronica Burton played in all 44 games. Burton, after being the only Valkyries player to play in every game in 2025, was joined by Kayla Thornton, Kaila Charles and Kaitlyn Chen this season. The four players for the Valkyries was the most by any team in the WNBA this season.
Veronica Burton and Kaitlyn Chen Postgame Press Conference | 9/24/26
Natalie Nakase Postgame Press Conference | 9/24/26
FRANCHISE SEASON LEADERS
Gabby Williams finished the season with 560 points, the most in a single season in Valkyries history. Other single season records broken were Kiah Stokes' 248 rebounds and 74 blocks, Janelle Salaün's 93 3-pointers made and Veronica Burton's 69 steals.
SEASON SWEEP
The Valkyries defeated the Sparks in all three matchups this season, sweeping the season series. The Valkyries swept seven teams this season, finishing a combined 21-0 this season against the Atlanta Dream, New York Liberty, Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, Toronto Tempo, Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm.
UP NEXT
The Valkyries host the Dallas Wings on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Chase Center in Game 1 of the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs.
By the Numbers
- The victory seals the No. 2-seed for the Valkyries, who will face No. 7-seed Dallas in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
- Golden State erased a 16-point deficit in the victory, the largest comeback in franchise history.
- Kaitlyn Chen led the Valkyries with 18 points, all of which came in the second half including 14 in the fourth quarter. Chen went 8-12 (66.7 percent) from the field and added three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
- Veronica Burton recorded 17 points and a team-high five assists, shooting 5-12 (41.7 percent) from the field and a perfect 6-6 from the free throw line.
- Kiah Stokes grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds, six of which came in the opening six minutes of play. Stokes also added seven points, three assists, and one steal.
- Gabby Williams scored 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in 19:43. Williams went 6-14 (42.9 percent) from the field and 2-3 (66.7 percent) from three, including a go-ahead three with 20 seconds left to put Golden State up 73-72.
- Kayla Thornton went a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line in the final moments of the fourth quarter.
- Janelle Salaün scored six points to go with five rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
- Golden State’s bench outscored Los Angeles’s 33-16.
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