The Golden State Valkyries had a historic run to the 2026 WNBA championship, becoming the fastest North American (NBA/NFL/NHL/MLB/WNBA) professional expansion team since 1967 to win a title, earning it in just its second year. Along the way, the Valkyries had remarkable individual and collective achievements, culminating in their ultimate goal just two seasons into their ambitious five-year timeline. Read below to relive each standout moment of this historic season. 

May 8: Valkyries Earn First Win of Season
The Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm 91-80 at Climate Pledge Arena in the team's opening game of 2026 on May 8. Janelle Salaün scored a team-high 20 points, with Veronica Burton adding 16 points and a team-high six assists. » Full Story

May 25: Valkyries Record Largest Win in Franchise History 
Golden State earned its largest win in franchise history with a 97-70 victory over the Connecticut Sun at Chase Center on May 25. Gabby Williams (15), Kaila Charles (12), and Veronica Burton (11) all scored in double figures for the starting group, and four reserves had at least nine points, including Kaitlyn Chen (10), Tiffany Hayes (9), Janelle Salaün (9), and Laeticia Amihere (9). Golden State tied a WNBA record with 12 different players scoring and got 53 points from its bench. » Full Story

June 2: Valkyries Make Franchise Record 18 3-Pointers
The Valkyries set a franchise record with 18 made 3-pointers in a 95-77 Commissioner's Cup victory over the Portland Fire at Chase Center on June 2. Kayla Thornton rained in a team-best five 3-pointers, leading the charge as eight different Valkyries made at least one triple. Thornton scored 19 points, while Janelle Salaün added 18 points and three 3-pointers. Twelve of the Valkyries' 3-pointers came in the first half as they built up a lead as large as 22 points. The Valkyries doubled up the Fire's 3-point total, 18-9, giving them a 27-point advantage from behind the arc. » Full Story

June 26: Kiah Stokes Records Most Blocks in a Game in Franchise History
Kiah Stokes set the tone for the Valkyries on both ends of the court, beginning by blocking a layup attempt by Dream star forward Angel Reese and then draining a left-wing 3-pointer on the other end for the game’s first points. She then forced a turnover on Reese and drew a shooting foul on the other end, splitting a pair of free throws. Stokes not only scored the first four points of the game, but she also swatted four shots away in the quarter, coming one block short of a career-high for a quarter. Stokes finished with a season-high 13 points and a season-high seven blocks, the most blocks in a game in franchise history. » Full Story

July 2: Gabby Williams Named First All-Star Starter in Franchise History
Gabby Williams was named a WNBA All-Star starter for the first time in her career and became the first-ever Valkyries All-Star starter. Williams ended the year as the Valkyries’ leading scorer, averaging 14.4 points and playing in 39 of their 40 games.  » Full Story

June 24-July 18: Valkyries Go on a Nine-Game Winning Streak, the Longest in Franchise History 
The Valkyries went on a nine-game winning streak, spanning nearly a month from June 24 through July 18. During the nine-game winning streak, seven of the Valkyries’ wins came against opponents with a .500 winning percentage or higher. They also became the second team in WNBA history to complete a perfect road trip of at least five games. The slate included three wins over the Atlanta Dream, who have three 2026 All-Stars, two against the Washington Mystics, a win over the 2026 Commissioner’s Cup champion New York Liberty, a win against the Indiana Fever, who have three 2026 All-Stars, and a pair of wins against the Toronto Tempo and Connecticut Sun.  » Full Story

Aug. 12: Valkyries Surpass Inaugural Season Win Total with 20-point Win Over Sky
The Valkyries earned their 24th win of the season, surpassing their inaugural-season win total with a 91-71 victory over the Chicago Sky at Chase Center on Aug. 12. Tiffany Hayes was the highest of five Valkyries to score in double figures (Hayes 22 PTS, Kaila Charles 15 PTS, Gabby Williams 13 PTS, Veronica Burton 13 PTS, Cecilia Zandalasini 12 PTS). » Full Story

Sept. 2: Natalie Nakase named Coach of the Month for August
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was named the WNBA Coach of the Month for August. The Valkyries went a league-best 10-2 (.833) during August, including 6-1 on the road. Golden State held opponents to 72.0 points per game and a 40.1 field goal percentage, both league-leading, and the team’s +11.8 +/- in August was also the best in the WNBA. This was Nakase’s second career Coach of the Month award after earning the honor in June last season. » Full Story

Sept. 24: Valkyries Complete Largest Comeback in Franchise History
The Valkyries finished the 2026 regular season by completing the largest comeback in franchise history, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 on Sept. 24 at Crypto.com Arena. With the win, the Valkyries secured the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs. 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 them 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 more than four and a half minutes, while Gabby Williams and Kaitlyn Chen rattled off 18 consecutive points in the final frame. » Full Story

Sept. 27: Valkyries Win First Playoff Game in Franchise History Against Wings
The Valkyries' highest-scoring game in franchise history propelled them to their first playoff win, defeating the Dallas Wings 104-80 at Chase Center on Sept. 27. Eight different players connected from beyond the arc to tie the Valkyries' all-time high of 18 3-pointers made in a game. Cecilia Zandalasini, Tiffany Hayes, and Gabby Williams all scored over 20 points, with five players reaching double figures. As a team, the Valkyries recorded their fewest turnovers this season with four. » Full Story

Oct. 2: Valkyries Clinch First Playoff Series Win in Franchise History Against Wings
The Valkyries won their first playoff series in franchise history and advanced to the Semifinals with a 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings at Chase Center on Oct. 2. In the win, the Valkyries overcame a 16-point second-half deficit, tied for the fifth-largest comeback in a winner-take-all game in WNBA history. Gabby Williams led the way for the Valkyries, scoring 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half. Tiffany Hayes added 18 points, and Veronica Burton did a bit of everything with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. » Full Story

Oct. 4: Janelle Salaun Becomes First Sixth Player of the Year in Franchise History 
Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün was unanimously selected as the Kia WNBA Sixth Player of the Year, the league announced on Oct. 4. Salaün received all 74 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Salaün appeared in 40 games for Golden State this season, all as a reserve, averaging 22.1 minutes, 12.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 42.5 percent from the field. The forward set the single-season WNBA record for reserve players in total points (509), threes (93), and threes per game (2.3). Her 12.7 points per game led all reserve players this season and ranked seventh all-time in league history. Salaün shot 39.2 percent from deep this season, which ranked fourth in the league among all players with at least five attempts per game.  » Full Story

Oct. 9: Valkyries Complete First Playoff Series Sweep in Franchise History Against Defending Champion Las Vegas Aces
The Valkyries became the first team in WNBA history to sweep a defending champion in a best-of-seven series and earned their first sweep in franchise history, taking down the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 overtime at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Oct. 9. The Valkyries went on a 17-0 run in the third quarter and an 8-0 fourth-quarter run to overcome a once 13-point deficit and force overtime. In overtime, they outscored the Aces by 10 points to seal the win. Gabby Williams hit a clutch step-back mid-range jumper in overtime with 54.7 seconds remaining, serving as the dagger in the Aces' title defense. » Full Story

Oct. 15: Gabby Williams Named First All-Defensive First Team Player in Franchise History; Valkyries Have Multiple All-Defensive Team Players for the First Time in Franchise History
Valkyries forward Gabby Williams was named to the 2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team, and guard Veronica Burton and center Kiah Stokes were named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team, the league announced on Oct. 15. Williams was selected to the first team for the first time in her career, Burton made the second team for the second consecutive season, and Stokes made her second career selection. » Full Story

Oct. 17: Valkyries Earn First WNBA Finals Win in Franchise History
Golden State won its first finals game in franchise history, scoring the final seven points to earn a 68-64 victory at Chase Center on Oct. 17. Gabby Williams scored six of those points from the foul line. Williams led all scorers with 26 points and finished with a +16 in 33 minutes. Williams was the only Valkyrie to score in double figures, but her teammates contributed in other ways: Kiah Stokes tied a playoff career-high with four blocks, and Kaila Charles set a playoff career-high with 10 rebounds. » Full Story

Oct. 24: Kiah Stokes Sets WNBA Finals Blocks Record
Kiah Stokes surpassed Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner for the most blocks in a WNBA Finals series, recording her 13th block on Oct. 24. Stokes had three blocks in Game 4, becoming the first player in finals history to record at least three blocks in four straight games, and finished the series with 19 blocks. » Full Story

Oct. 31: Valkyries Win First WNBA Championship in Franchise History
In just their second season, the Golden State Valkyries became WNBA Champions, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Halloween at Chase Center. Gabby Williams was unstoppable on both ends of the court, recording a team-high 30 points and four blocks. She scored more points in one half (28) than any player in a postseason game in WNBA history to help close out Game 7. » Full Story

Oct. 31: Gabby Williams Named First Finals MVP in Franchise History
Gabby Williams was named the WNBA Finals Most Valuable Player after leading all players with 19.6 points and 2.6 steals per game, becoming one of five players all-time to average at least 17.0 points and 2.5 steals per game in the Finals. Williams scored in double figures in six Finals games, including 26 points in game six and 30 in the Championship-clinching game seven victory. Williams’ 11 games with 15+ points throughout the playoffs led all players in 2026 and are tied for the most in a single postseason in league history. » Full Story

For more on the Valkyries' title run, check out the championship hub at https://valkyries.com/championship.