{"id":730399,"date":"2026-06-11T19:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T19:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/730399\/"},"modified":"2026-06-11T19:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T19:30:10","slug":"vote-the-valks-valkyries-star-power-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/730399\/","title":{"rendered":"Vote the Valks: Valkyries Star Power Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

WNBA All-Star voting has opened and the Valkyries have several star players vying for a spot, including two 2025 All-Stars, Gabby Williams and Kayla Thornton, reigning Most Improved Player Veronica Burton and reigning First Team All-Rookie forward Janelle Sala\u00fcn.\u00a0<\/p>\n

0:00Vote the Valks for WNBA All-Star 2026<\/p>\n

VERONICA BURTON: LEADER, FLOOR GENERAL AND ALL-AROUND DOG
Veronica Burton has played in every game in the Valkyries\u2019 franchise history and has taken her game to new heights since arriving in the Bay. Not only was Burton the WNBA\u2019s Most Improved Player in 2025, but she also 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. Burton has proven that last season wasn\u2019t an aberration, as she has again increased her scoring output up to a career-high 14.7 points per game in 2026. She is one of eight players in the WNBA averaging at least 14 points and five assists per game, joining dynamic guards such as Alyssa Thomas, Jackie Young, Kelsey Plum, Paige Bueckers, Carla Leite, Caitlin Clark and Olivia Miles. Burton\u2019s signature game so far this season was her two-way takeover against Clark and the Indiana Fever at Chase Center on May 22. Burton scored a season-high 25 points that game and also set a career-high with five blocks. She was Clark\u2019s primary defender and blocked her several times, helping the Valkyries hold a premier offensive weapon to 3-for-12 shooting in a two-point win, her second-lowest field goal percentage in a game this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe really controlled the tempo, started off just attacking, was composed and fearless every moment,\u201d Head Coach Natalie Nakase said of Burton following her performance against the Fever.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Burton shoulders a heavy load for this franchise both on and off the court. Offensively, she is the catalyst, floor general, a top playmaker and shot creator. The ball is often in Burton\u2019s hands down the stretch as a primary decision maker. Defensively, she often guards the opposing team\u2019s lead guard and is one of the best in the world in doing so as a reigning All-Defensive Team guard. She is a vocal leader who motivates her teammates with her work ethic, passion and basketball IQ. Coach Nakase considers her one of the toughest players she\u2019s ever coached, both mentally and physically and teammate Gabby Williams believes the best way to describe her game is \u201call-around dog.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShe gets everyone involved, at the same time a dog on both ends,” Williams said. “Gets to the rim, can defend you full-court. Just all-around dog is how I’d describe her game.”<\/p>\n

0:00Highlights: Best of Veronica Burton in 2026 (so far)<\/p>\n

GABBY WILLIAMS: WORLD-CLASS DEFENDER AMIDST CAREER YEAR ON BOTH ENDS
Gabby Williams was a marquee free agent acquisition by the Valkyries, bringing All-Star and First Team All-Defense cache. Williams made her All-Star debut in 2025 and finished the season leading the WNBA in steals en route to her second All-Defensive Team honor. She finished third in the Defensive Player of the Year voting, establishing herself as one of the top defenders in the sport.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“For a player of Gabby’s caliber to choose us in just our second year means everything,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. “She is world-class. One of the best defenders in the world, a WNBA All-Star and someone who makes everyone around her better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Williams has been a seamless fit with the Valkyries, bringing her defensive tenacity to a team that was already one of the WNBA\u2019s best defenses in its inaugural season. She has remained one of the league\u2019s most potent ball thieves, tied for fifth in steals per game (1.8 SPG). Offensively, Williams is averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game and shooting a career-high 39.4 percent from three on 5.5 attempts per contest. She notched a career-high 27 points against the Las Vegas Aces on June 6, shooting an efficient 10-for-17 from the field with three made 3-pointers against the defending champs.\u00a0Williams is the Valkyries’ leading scorer this season.<\/p>\n

0:00Highlights: Best of Gabby Williams in 2026 (so far)<\/p>\n

\u201cShe’s a really dynamic scorer and in big moments gets clutch buckets down the stretch,\u201d Burton said of Williams. \u201cThere’s a steadiness to her and she’s super reliable. Her composure and ability to keep us together \u2014we really feel it and it really has elevated us as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Coach Nakase, Williams continues to get more comfortable within the system and confident in being a leader in the locker room. She aspired to grow and expand her game, taking on more responsibilities with Golden State and that has already materialized. A player with deep roots in the Bay Area, Williams seeks her second consecutive All-Star appearance and her first representing the Bay\u2019s team.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"9524\"\/<\/a><\/p>\n

KAYLA THORNTON: STANDARD OF A VALKYRIES\u2019 ALL-STAR AND OVERCOMING ADVERSITY
Kayla Thornton will forever hold the honor as the first player in Valkyries\u2019 franchise history to be selected as an All-Star. Thronton set the tone by scoring the franchise\u2019s first-ever basket and was the team\u2019s leading scorer before a season-ending ACL injury. Thornton has overcome adversity throughout her career, becoming the first undrafted player to be named an All-Star since 2019. This season, she has had to overcome a different hurdle, recovering from that devastating injury and returning to form.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe had no fear and that’s what I like to see,\u201d Nakase said of Thornton. \u201cIf you guys just saw the behind-the-scenes of six months of rehab, it’s tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thornton has started in every game this season and scored in double figures more times than not. She is shooting a career-high 37.9 percent from behind the arc and made at least four 3-pointers in consecutive games for the first time in her career. Thornton has also been a prolific free throw shooter, shooting 90.9 percent from the foul line. The perseverance she has displayed has been remarkable and Golden State continues to rely on her veteran leadership. Despite the injury, Thornton hasn\u2019t been afraid to put her body on the line, diving for loose balls and competing with physicality on both ends. Her comeback story has been inspiring and worthy of celebration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes with injury, you can play a little reserved or with a little bit of fear, but that’s not KT,\u201d Burton said. \u201cHer as a leader, her voice, her energy, we all feed off of it. It’s amazing to have KT back out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

0:00Highlights: Best of Kayla Thornton in 2026 (so far)<\/p>\n

JANELLE SALA\u00dcN: SCORING PROWESS AND SHARPSHOOTING RISING STAR
Janelle Sala\u00fcn\u2019s rookie season coincided with the Valkyries\u2019 inaugural season and both were historic, as Sala\u00fcn was named to the WNBA\u2019s All-Rookie Team and the Valkyries won more games than any expansion team in league history. Sala\u00fcn is currently second in franchise history in total points scored, recently surpassing the 500-point milestone and has built off her stellar rookie campaign by becoming the team\u2019s leader in made 3-pointers (2.7 3PM) in Year 2. She is fifth league wide in made 3-pointers per game and has done all of her damage off the bench, ranking second in scoring among WNBA reserves. Sala\u00fcn\u2019s quick ascent to the top of the league in several notable categories is a testament to her work ethic and overall scoring prowess. An All-Star selection this early in her career would further cement her rising-star status.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s one of the most driven and focused players I\u2019ve coached,\u201d Nakase said of Sala\u00fcn. \u201cHer mindset is 100% on the game \u2013 how she can get better and help this team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

0:00Highlights: Best of Janelle Sala\u00fcn in 2026 (so far)<\/p>\n

Fans can vote for their favorite Valkyries at https:\/\/valkyries.wnba.com\/all-star<\/a>. Fan votes will count as double beginning on June 11 at 9 p.m. (PT) through June 12 at 8:59 p.m. (PT). Other 2-for-1 voting days are June 16 at 9 p.m. (PT) through June 17 at 8:59 p.m. (PT) and June 23 at 9 p.m. (PT) through June 24 at 8:59 p.m. (PT). All-Star fan voting concludes on June 27 at 8:59 p.m. (PT).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WNBA All-Star voting has opened and the Valkyries have several star players vying for a spot, including two…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":730400,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[629],"tags":[49,48,82,630],"class_list":["post-730399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-sports","tag-wnba"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730399","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=730399"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/730399\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/730400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=730399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=730399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=730399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}