Golden State Valkyries 78 – 76 Seattle Storm | WNBA | April 26, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries opened their first-ever WNBA season with a dramatic 78-76 victory over the Seattle Storm in a tense, defensive battle at Chase Center. The expansion franchise, playing its maiden regular-season game, showcased grit beyond its years to hold off a veteran-laden Storm side in front of a packed and electric Bay Area crowd.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams struggled for offensive rhythm, but the Valkyries established an early defensive identity. Golden State built a 10-point lead in the third quarter, only for Seattle to storm back with a 15-2 run bridging the third and fourth periods. The final minutes were a nail-biter: with the score tied at 76 and under 30 seconds remaining, Valkyries guard Aliyah Boston (22 points, 11 rebounds) drove baseline and kicked to Kelsey Plum for a go-ahead three-pointer that proved to be the game-winner. Seattle had a final look for Jewell Loyd, but her contested step-back jumper rimmed out at the buzzer.

Key Moments

• First quarter: Golden State held Seattle to just 14 points, forcing four turnovers in the first 10 minutes.
• Mid-game surge: The Storm’s Ezi Magbegor (14 points, 9 boards) dominated the paint in the third, cutting the deficit from 10 to 2 entering the fourth.
• Final minute: After Plum’s go-ahead triple, the Valkyries defense swarmed Loyd on the final possession, forcing a heavily contested miss.

Tactical Story

The Valkyries leaned on a switching defensive scheme that bothered Seattle’s pick-and-roll actions all night. Coach Natalie Nakase’s game plan forced the Storm into uncharacteristic isolation plays, resulting in 17 turnovers. Offensively, Golden State balanced its attack through movement and patience: they recorded 22 assists on 31 made field goals. Seattle, by contrast, depended heavily on Loyd (26 points) and Sue Bird (16 points, 7 assists), but received minimal bench production (just 8 points).

Standout Players

• Kelsey Plum (GSV): 19 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds — her clutch three capped a stellar all-around performance.
• Aliyah Boston (GSV): 22 points, 11 boards, 2 blocks — the rookie showed poise beyond her years in the season opener.
• Jewell Loyd (SEA): 26 points on 9-of-22 shooting — efficient but ultimately left without enough support.

Season Impact

The win sends a strong message around the league: the Valkyries are no pushover. At 1-0, Golden State currently sits atop the WNBA standings, while Seattle falls to 0-1 early in what promises to be a competitive Western Conference race. For the expansion franchise, this opener could be the springboard to a surprising playoff push.