The Golden State Valkyries recently concluded their inaugural WNBA season, establishing the culture and identity of professional women's basketball in the Bay. Throughout this journey, they consistently raised the bar and etched their names in history books. Read below for an updated timeline of all their historic accomplishments this season.

Oct. 8: Veronica Burton Becomes First All-Defensive Team Member in Valkyries' History
Valkyries guard Veronica Burton has been named to the 2025 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team. Burton started all 44 regular-season games for Golden State, helping the Valkyries lead the league in opponent points per game (76.3) and in opponent shooting percentage (40.5) while ranking third in defensive rating (99.8). The Northwestern alumna ranked seventh among WNBA guards with 0.6 blocks per game, and was one of two guards in the league this season to average over 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks per game (also Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard). » Full Story

Sept. 29: Janelle Salaün Becomes First All-Rookie Team Member in Valkyries' History
Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün was named to the WNBA All-Rookie Team. Joining Salaün on the WNBA All-Rookie Team are Dallas' Paige Bueckers, Washington's Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, and Seattle's Dominique Malonga. During the regular season, Salaün ranked fourth among WNBA rookies in points per game (11.3) while also placing third in rebounds (5.1) and minutes (27.0) per game. She shot 36.6 percent from three-point range, seventh among first-year players, and posted an offensive rating of 100.9. The forward appeared in 36 games with 33 starts, recording 22 double-digit scoring performances, including three 20-point games. » Full Story

Sept. 17: Natalie Nakase Becomes First WNBA Coach of the Year in Valkyries' History
Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was named the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year. Nakase received 53 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters to earn the honor. Nakase led Golden State to 23 regular season wins during its inaugural year, a WNBA single-season record by an expansion team, and also became the first-ever expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. Under Nakase and her staff, the Valkyries posted one of the best defenses in the WNBA, leading the league in opponent points per game (76.3) and opponent field goal percentage (40.5), while having the third-best defensive rating (99.8). Offensively, Golden State ranked top five in the WNBA in rebounds per game (35.3), three pointers made (427), and free throw percentage (81.5) during the regular season. » Full Story

Sept. 15: Veronica Burton Becomes First WNBA Most Improved Player in Franchise History
Valkyries guard Veronica Burton was named the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year. Burton received 68 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Burton became the first player in WNBA history to increase her averages by at least five points, two rebounds and two assists per game from one season to the next. She finished the 2025 regular season ranking third in the WNBA in assists per game, fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.82), and ninth in free throw percentage (87.8%). » Full Story

Sept. 4: Valkyries Become First Expansion Team to Make Playoffs in Inaugural Season
Veronica Burton's and-1 basket with 22.3 seconds left was the dagger, as the Valkyries clinched their first postseason berth in the team's inaugural season, defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at Chase Center. Up by two points with under 30 seconds to go, Burton took Paige Bueckers off the dribble and was able to finish at the rim with contact to put the game away. » Full Story

Aug. 30: Valkyries Win by Franchise-High Margin of 37 Points
The Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics by a franchise-high 37 points, 99-62, at Chase Center. Janelle Salaün scored a team-high 20 points in the victory, while Carla Leite added 19 points off the bench, shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the field. » Full Story

Aug. 15: Valkyries Set WNBA Record for Most Wins by an Expansion Team
The Valkyries set a WNBA record for most wins by an expansion team in their inaugural season with a 90-59 win over the Sky in Chicago. Their 18th win overall and fourth in a row moved them past the Detroit Shock, who had 17 wins in the 19998 season. The Valkyries had five players score in double figures in the 31-point victory, their largest winning margin in franchise history.  » Full Story

Aug. 13: Veronica Burton Becomes First Valkyrie With 30-Point Game 
Veronica Burton etched her name in Valkyries history, becoming their first-ever player to record 30 points in a game. Burton scored 20 of her 30 points in the second half, finishing 10-for-13 from the field and 6-for-9 from three. In setting a career-high in points and made 3-pointers, she became just the third player in WNBA history to have at least 30 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while shooting 75 percent or better from the field — she joined Napheesa Collier (July 27 2025) and Sabrina Ionescu (July 6 2022) in this exclusive group.  » Full Story

July 12: Valkyries Eclipse 100 Points for First Time in Franchise History
The Valkyries eclipsed 100 points for the first time in franchise history in their 104-102 loss to the Aces in Las Vegas. Golden State had five players score in double figures, paced by Janelle Salaün and Tiffany Hayes, who scored 16 points apiece. » Full Story

July 6: Kayla Thornton Becomes First Valkyries All-Star 
Kayla Thornton was named a 2025 WNBA All-Star for her first career All-Star nod and became the first-ever player to represent Golden State during WNBA All-Star Weekend. At the time of her selection, Thornton had started in all 17 games for the Valkyries, leading in minutes (30.0), points (14.9) and rebounds (7.1) per game. She ranked 10th in the league in steals per game (1.6 SPG), 13th in rebounds per game and 21st in points per game. » Full Story

July 3: Head Coach Natalie Nakase Becomes First Valkyries WNBA Coach of the Month Recipient for June
Valkyries Head Coach Natalie Nakase was named the WNBA Coach of the Month for June. The Valkyries went 7-4 (.636) in June, which included three wins by 24 points or more and wrapped up the month winning four of their last five games. Golden State averaged a 46.1 field goal percentage to go with 82.1 points, 47.5 rebounds and 18.7 assists per game, while holding opponents to 75.1 points per game. Nakase earned her first WNBA Coach of the Month honor in just her second month as a head coach. » Full Story

June 17: Kayla Thornton Becomes Valkyries' First Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 4 of the WNBA Season
Kayla Thornton was named the WNBA's Western Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, June 9 and Sunday, June 15. The Valkyries recorded a perfect 2-0 week, with Thornton averaging 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 43.8 percent (14-32) from the field. » Full Story

May 23: Kayla Thornton Records First Double-Double in Franchise History
Kayla Thornton recorded the first double-double in franchise history with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the Valkyries' win over the Sparks. Thornton's double-double was also the first of her WNBA career. 

May 21: Valkyries Earn First Regular Season Win in Franchise History
The Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 76-74 at Chase Center, earning the first regular season win in franchise history. Veronica Burton led the way for Golden State, scoring a career-high 22 points in the win, with 14 of those coming in the fourth quarter. » Full Story

May 16: Kayla Thornton Scores First Basket in Franchise History
Kayla Thornton scored the Valkyries' historic first basket in their opening regular season game at Chase Center, hitting a fadeaway mid-range jumper drifting to her left. » Full Story