SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries are leaving the City with a two-game win streak as they head out on a two-game road trip.
The Valkyries beat the Toronto Tempo 92-82 on Tuesday night at Chase Center, overcoming a 13-point first-half deficit and using a 15-0 run that spanned both sides of the halftime break to set themselves up to take control in the second half.
Golden State (21-9) got off to a strong start, taking a seven-point lead midway through the first quarter. But Toronto (10-20) began to claw back after an early timeout and eventually built a double-digit lead in the second, forcing the Valkyries to regroup.
They did, cutting the deficit to one at the half and then quickly retaking the lead early in the third quarter. Golden State never trailed again.
Janelle Salaün led the Valkyries with 21 points, her second consecutive 20-point game. Kayla Thornton added 20.
It was Thornton’s highest-scoring game since she poured in 29 points against Chicago last June.
“It’s hard to to beat a team like that back-to-back,” Thornton said. “So we had to try to treat this like a playoff game. They’re a great team. But once you play a team over and over, you know what they want to do. So it’s all about doing the details and who can execute and who can defend their keys the best.
“Shoutout to my my teammates for finding me. It’s the time that I put into my work, and just going out there and just taking what the defense gives me.”
Nyara Sabally led Toronto with 22 points.
Tuesday’s game wrapped up a two-game baseball-esque series with both games played in San Francisco. The Valkyries won Sunday’s matchup 96-79.
“Playing the team twice is hard, especially against Sandy Brondello,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “She’s an amazing coach in terms of adjustments.”
The home series finale was attended by a sellout crowd of 18,064.
It was a palate-cleansing three-day stretch for Golden State, which lost one game on each side of the All-Star break to snap a franchise-record nine-game win streak.
The victory Tuesday over the Tempo elevated the Valkyries back into a tie with Las Vegas for the second-best record in the WNBA.
Nakase was particularly pleased with the way Golden State’s defense keyed the offense during the 15-0 run that turned the game. And though the Valks punctuated the run with a prolific 31-point outlay in the third quarter, Nakase harped on the defensive end of the floor as the true catalyst that accelerated the Valkyries’ comeback.
“If we’re deflecting passes, and then we press a little bit more on the ball-handlers, if we can get some steals, that leads into our offense,” Nakase said. “Sometimes it just depletes the other team, right? These momentum runs that we can get, whether it’s Gabby finishing coast to coast, or we’re running really fast to where we’re getting to the paint, and then we’re spraying because everyone’s ready to shoot.
“If we continue to ramp up our defense, our offense is going to be, I’d say, slightly easier. But it’s not going to happen unless we play defense, unless we pressure the ball, get deflections, take a charge, do all the little things, so then it gets us into the flow of our offense.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün (13) take a shot against Toronto Tempo’s Marina Mabrey (3) in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Salaun stays hot
Salaün seems to enjoy playing against Toronto. Tuesday marked the first time that she has had back-to-back 20-point games since May, continuing a torrid scoring stretch that has nearly tied her with All-Star starter Gabby Williams for the team lead in points per game.
She scored 26 points when Golden State beat the Tempo 83-75 on July 8 in Toronto and 24 in the Valks’ win on Sunday.
“I’m lucky to play with great players,” Salaün said.
Coupled with a breakout game for Thornton, the Valkyries had two hot hands to feed. And Nakase was all for letting them eat.
“That’s really key for us, because whoever shines shines, and we all want to support that person,” Nakase said. So they had it rolling, and they were continuing to give it to them. So credit to our team.”
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Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) takes a shot against Toronto Tempo’s Isabelle Harrison (21) in the second half at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) passes the ball against Toronto Tempo’s Maria Conde (10) in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Toronto Tempo in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) celebrates a play by Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) against the Toronto Tempo in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes (41) blocks a shot against Toronto Tempo’s Aneesah Morrow (24) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) blocks a shot against Toronto Tempo’s Nyara Sabally (8) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes (41) and Toronto Tempo’s Julie Allemand (22) fight for a loose ball in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) is fouled by Toronto Tempo’s Kiki Rice (1) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) heads to the basket against Toronto Tempo’s Kiki Rice (1) in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) loses the ball against Toronto Tempo’s Julie Allemand (22) and Toronto Tempo’s Maria Conde (10) in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Toronto Tempo’s Kiki Rice (1) fights for the ball against Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) and Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) keeps the ball away from Toronto Tempo’s Maria Conde (10) and Toronto Tempo’s Julie Allemand (22) late in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) hugs Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams (1) after their 92-82 win over the Toronto Tempo at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) shares a laugh with mascot Violet after their 92-82 win over the Toronto Tempo at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) takes a shot against Toronto Tempo’s Isabelle Harrison (21) in the second half at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)